Modise agrees with Broos on Mofokeng – ‘Not the type to isolate 1v1’

Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Teko Modise agrees with coach Hugo Broos’ assessment that Relebohile Mofokeng is not a winger.

Broos said last week that he will no longer play Mofokeng in a wide role but will utilise him as a No.10 instead because that is where he thrives the most.

Modise feels Broos is spot on when it comes to the Orlando Pirates star’s best position and is surprised that it has taken so long for many to realise it when he was among those who said it before that the 21-year-old is not a winger.

“I don’t think anybody questions his talent; we’re just wondering how far he can go because football has introduced us to so many talents, but eventually they fade away –maybe because of the pressure, whatever the issue may be,” Modise told SABC.

Modise on why Mofokeng is a No.10

Bafana Bafana legend Teko Modise aligns with the senior national team head coach, Hugo Broos, on Rele Mofokeng’s positional shift and his rise this season.

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“But look at Rele’s growth now, especially this season. I think one of the biggest factors contributing to the numbers that he has is the change of position. At times, when we used to say Rele is not a winger, people thought that we were hating – but he is not a winger he is a 10.

“Rele is not a type of player to isolate 1v1 and dribble past someone, but he is so clever, his IQ game is so clever. He needs to be on the ball all the time, and in that number 10 position and you look at how much he has contributed to the club.”

Modise is delighted that Mofokeng has started to show his true qualities again after a slow start to the current season which led to questions about his mentality and focus.

The player has netted eight goals, including a hat-trick against TS Galaxy on Sunday, and weighed in with six assists this season. While addressing his form on Monday, Broos said  the decision by Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou to deploy him centrally is paying off well and hopes that it is extended to the national team.

Broos addresses Rele’ poor early form

“Rele was, at periods, still looking for himself, but he quickly became a star here in South Africa. Once you reach that level, things become worse and more difficult and the same happened with Rele,” Broos said in regards to Mofokeng’s poor form early this season.

“There were so many things on his mind that he forgot to play football, and this is totally normal. I don’t blame him for that  –  when you’re such a young guy and suddenly everyone wants to be around you, it’s difficult to manage. That’s why he didn’t have such a good season last year at Pirates.

“So now this season, little by little, you saw him coming. And now you see Rele showing what everybody wants to see: a very good player, also playing in a different position. He plays more centrally. I think this is the future for Rele. He is not a winger. He can play on the wings against an opponent who is not so strong but against stronger opponents, he will not play a good game because he’s not a winger.”

Why Bafana boss will play Pirates ace centrally

Broos is confident that a permanent change in Mofokeng’s position will lift his game even higher.

“He doesn’t have that explosivity. He doesn’t have that on the line – dribbling players. That is not his quality. His quality is intelligence – his quality to make good passes and use the spaces,” he added.

“That is what Rele is best at. I think now the coach from Pirates will give him that position. And it’s not because he scored three times yesterday that we are thinking, ‘Ah you see’. No, no. This is something we’ve known is his best position. And he’s coming, that I can tell you, to Bafana Bafana to play that position and not on the wings anymore.”

Broos will likely test Mofokeng in the new position during Bafana Bafana’s friendly matches against Panama on Friday and next Tuesday.