Since making his debut for Orlando Pirates, youngster Relebohile Mofokeng has been a hit and fans' favourite.
The 20-year-old attacker was introduced to the senior team later in the 2022/23 season; he has since played 69 games across all competitions, with a return of 14 goals and 18 assists. However, Mofokeng could either be at Sekhukhune United or Mamelodi Sundowns if Pirates couldn't have acted swiftly.
While serving as the Orlando Pirates youth coach, Mandla Qhogi discovered Mofokeng after his exploits at the Pirates Cup and the Engen Knockout Challenge competitions. At the time, the versatile attacker was contracted to SAFA-Transnet School of Excellence.
The Soweto giants did well to discuss with his handlers before finally landing the talented player. Babina Noko and Masandawana were the other two teams desperate to land the then-teenager.
What Sundowns did in their desperate bid to land Mofokeng
“I saw Rele playing a tournament, not knowing he belonged to the School of Excellence,” Qhogi recalled as quoted by FAR Post.
“I made a follow-up after that tournament, I [found out]. Then, the School of Excellence came to play the Pirates Cup. Then, that’s where the management of the cup also saw him. And we still had to follow up; we didn’t sign him immediately after the Pirates Cup. We followed him even when he played in the Engen Tournament because there were too many teams then [that were] after him, and we had to accelerate the process of signing him.
“We first went to the School of Excellence to discuss with them. They gave us the go-ahead to negotiate with the parents. We went to the parents; they were happy to give Rele to us. Then we went to the School of Excellence and told them the parents were happy. And the club took over from there, signing him.
“I was told Sekhukhune [United] were after him but the main one was [Mamelodi] Sundowns, they even offered a huge amount to the School of Excellence, I won’t mention it. But that was after we had signed Rele,” Qhogi concluded.
With his exploits, Mofokeng has won a place in the Bafana Bafana squad.
