Former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mashego has explained why Relebohile Mofokeng needs assistance in the 10 role, and why he lost the battle against Khuliso Mudau out wide on Wednesday night.
After displaying dazzling form with three goals and two assists in three matches—and picking up three consecutive Man of the Match awards—the 21-year-old Mofokeng didn’t quite make his presence felt in the 2-1 loss to Sundowns in the Betway Premiership at FNB Stadium.
According to Mashego, Mofokeng would be more influential in a double number 10 role than at the wide position, where his physicality falls short against players like Mudau.
“For me, I don’t know, I think as a number 10, but he needs a little bit of help,” Mashego said on Sports Night Amplified.
“You know, now I’m going to talk like a coach. I don’t have the qualification, but I would like to see him play maybe differently, maybe in a number 10 role that has two number 10s in a sort of a 4-3-3 [formation] where you have a sitting number six, and then you have your number eight.
“And your number 10, playing higher up next to the main striker… he’s not the strongest of boys, he’s never going to win a tackle in midfield because if you play there, you probably need to win a tackle or two.
KATLEGO MASHEGO: RELEBOHILE MOFOKENG WAS INTIMIDATED BY KHULISO MUDAU
“And I don’t think he’s efficient enough with the ball if he plays wide. It’s obviously where he wants to cut in, score with his right foot or curl it. But I would like to see him playing in a number 10, but with someone next to him. Not as a number 10 alone. It’s a bit too much because he’ll be playing against the defensive midfielder who’s specifically there to mark him.
“So it would be hard, and well, we saw that yesterday [Wednesday night], because he struggled against [Khuliso] Mudau. He got intimidated. Mudau is a bit rough around the edges, and he doesn’t get taken on a lot.
“You know, he [Mudau] doesn’t like players coming at him, and he doesn’t like players dribbling him. When Rele had the ball, he had a one-on-one chance with Mudau, but did not take him on; he instead passed the ball backwards.”
Mashego also added that when Mofokeng plays higher up alongside the main striker, physical presence becomes important. It is most essential in central areas where winning tackles is often required. In his view, Mofokeng is not the strongest and is unlikely to win many midfield duels if deployed in that role.
The former Pirates and Sundowns sharp-shooter said that Mofokeng turned back too often during the match. He frequently opted for the safer option instead of progressing play. Even with his passing, there were moments where he chose to retreat. And he felt that the presence of Mudau may have played on his mind.
Mashego concluded by saying that he would prefer to see Mofokeng operating in a traditional number 10 position. But with someone alongside him, such as Tito [Patrick Maswanganyi].
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