Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has weighed in on Relebohile Mofokeng’s transfer to Belgian Pro League side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
The 21-year-old playmaker is set to join the Belgian club from Betway Premiership champions, Orlando Pirates.
The Buccaneers announced the news on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, after the player left the Bafana camp directly to Belgium to finalise the transfer. Pirates went on to confirm that the move is subject to Mofokeng passing a medical examination and finalising personal terms with the Belgian Pro League outfit.
Mofokeng’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. After earning promotion from the Buccaneers’ DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] reserve team to the senior squad in May 2023, the youngster never looked back.
“Rele,” as he is affectionately known, played an instrumental role in helping Pirates clinch the league title for the first time in 14 years. His stellar domestic campaign saw him score 10 goals and eight assists in 27 league appearances.
The Belgian outfit’s interest spiked following Mofokeng’s impressive displays in Bafana colours. He was a key member of the Bafana squad that recently made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping South Africa finish second in Group A to reach the prestigious tournament’s knockout stages for the first time, before their Round of 32 elimination against Canada.
HUGO BROOS ON RELEBOHILE MOFOKENG’S EUROPEAN MOVE
Speaking to public broadcaster SABC Sport, Broos welcomed the move but urged patience regarding the player’s immediate game time.
“It’s a good thing for him. I think he will progress. But I also think we shouldn’t expect that he will play on the first day because ‘Rele’ has to be strong,” Broos said.
“It’s a very tough competition in Belgium. So, I think the first five to six months will be spent working on fitness to get a little bit stronger.
“But he’s a talented player, so once he has the power that he needs for such competition, there will be no problem, I think.”
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