Broos explains why he won’t drop Mofokeng as he outlines plan to get him firing again

Bafana Bafana boss Hugo Broos has reiterated his belief in Orlando Pirates winger Relebohile Mofokeng despite his lukewarm start to the season.

Mofokeng is yet to score or assist in 10 matches across all competitions this season, an unusual run for him, given what he produced last season as he scored 12 goals and provided 15 assists for Pirates.

His slow start to the season has been attributed to the transfer speculation that followed him at the end of last season with teams in Europe, United States and Saudi Arabia linked to him but he ultimately remained with Pirates.

Some pundits and observers have claimed the player may have been affected by the failed transfer away from the Soweto giants and Broos is among those who share that school of thought.

Broos explains why Rele has not set the stage alight

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Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says they will help Relebohile Mofokeng get back to his level best again!

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However, the Bafana Bafana coach has maintained that he will not drop the 20-year-old but instead put an arm around him to help him regain his form for both club and country.

“What happened with Rele is a little bit you can expect that,” said Broos on SABC after unveiling his final squad for World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

“You can expect that, there was interest from everywhere in the world. Every team wanted Rele and then I have a feeling, okay, there are, how do you say that in English, people are going out trying to sell him.

“I think this is what happened with Rele and it’s not good for the player. At the certain moment you are only thinking about that, you can’t focus anymore on football.”

Why is the Bafana coach sticking by Mofokeng?

Broos, who included Mofokeng in his final squad, explained why dropping him would have been the wrong thing to do.

“And that is what happened with Rele, but his qualities are still there, and I will not drop him like that,” added the veteran Belgian tactician.

“So he is with us and we will try to give him confidence again, and I try to talk a little bit with him also, he has to focus on football and all the rest forget it. It will come.”

Broos also called up Mofokeng for last month’s matches against Lesotho and Nigeria but the winger was not utilised and it remains to be seen if he will get a run out as South Africa head into two must-win matches this month.