Orlando Pirates legend Lucky Lekgwathi has pinpointed a personality trait that he believes the club’s DDC coach and legend Joseph Makhanya instilled in Relebohile Mofokeng.
Mofokeng has become a hot topic among fans after his stellar season with the Sea Robbers, culminating in his first call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad.
At 19, the Sharpeville-born winger has become a key player for the Buccaneers. He scored five goals and provided six assists in 38 appearances in the last campaign.
Lekgwathi has commended him for his positive discipline on and off the field, attributing it to the influence of his DDC coach, Makhanya. Lekgwathi noted that Makhanya himself embodied the same qualities he learnt from Augusto Palacious.
LUCKY LEKGWATHI IDENTIFIES THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN JOSEPH MAKHANYA AND RELEBOHILE MOFOKENG
“Everyone likes him; you can see he’s a humble boy, and he’s always smiling,” said Lekgwathi in an exclusive interview with FARPost. “He’s that kind of a player when you tell him, ‘run’ he’ll run. Even if you tell him an instruction, he’ll take it.
“You can see Rele; he’s humble, and that tells you of the hands he’s coming from. He comes from the hands of someone who played for development – Joseph Makhanya.
“[Augusto] Palacious was dealing with discipline. If you look at Joseph Makhanya, he was so disciplined.
“We mustn’t forget to give him credit [for Mofokeng’s discipline]. I look at Rele, and I look at Makhanya, I’m like it’s one and the same thing, Joseph was the same.”
Lekgwathi has urged Mofokeng to maintain his current character if he aspires to a long and successful football career.
‘HE’LL GO FAR’: Lekgwathi ON Relebohile Mofokeng
“I just wish that he continues being the same, be humble and work hard,” he continued.
“He mustn’t change his attitude. Some players who were not disciplined, played a few seasons, why? They were not humble. They thought I’ve arrived, so the boy must continue that way; he’ll go far.”
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