Orlando Pirates News: Mofokeng’s replacement found? Transfer updates, and more

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Orlando Pirates News: Mofokeng’s replacement found? Transfer updates, and more

Latest Orlando Pirates news in the last 24 hours including Relebohile Mofokeng’s replacement at Bucs and more.

Vilakazi identifies Mofokeng’s replacement

Benedict Vilakazi believes that Emile Witbooi can be a good replacement for Relebohile Mofokeng who has recently joined Belgian Pro League side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise from Orlando Pirates.

The teenager has impressed since bursting on the professional scene. The 17-year-old is on the books of Cape Town City since before they were relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship and also gone on to become a key member of the South African U17 national team.

“I think the boy has got qualities,” Tso said as quoted by iDiski Times.

“He’s a good player, and in that position, especially in that number 10 position, I think he’s one player that he can come in. He is more or less like Mofokeng. I think that would be a very good move for Orlando Pirates to get the boy to come and replace Mofokeng.

“Look, I cannot go for more than R10 million, I can’t. Looking at him, he never played at the highest level where I would say, yeah, maybe R15m. He hasn’t proven to say I can carry a big team. I’ve been doing this before. I’ve got a bit of experience in terms of playing at the highest level in the South African football.

Emile Witbooi playing for Amajimbos against Italy at U17 World Cup. Photo SAFA

“So, with that, for me, it says I can be below R10 million even though the R10 million for me again, I still think it’s too much. Yes, he’s a quality player, very good player, he’s still young, but now we need also to look at it in terms of the level of his game.

“So, it means it’s going to take a bit of time for him to really hold that team, compared to what Rele, [Oswin] Appollis and [Tshepang] Moremi did. So, for me, that’s why I’m saying below R10m I will negotiate on that.”

‘I don’t want to see you in PSL!’ – Rele told

Relebohile Mofokeng’s childhood coach Isaac ‘Ngamla’ Mphashane has revealed what he said to the youngster after helping Orlando Pirates complete a treble last season to move abroad.

Mphashane coached the new Royale Union Saint Gilloise attacker in his early years before Mofokeng was identified by the School of Excellence which also paved his path to the Soweto side.

“I told Rele before he left after they won the PSL League, I said to him ‘boy you won everything now it’s time to leave and I don’t want to see yourself coming back being here again in South Africa. Just retire when you come back home’,” said Mphashane.

“He won’t come back home [early]. He’s going to play UEFA [Champions League] and win UEFA again. He’s still young. 30 years, 32 years he can come back home.

“Like I said to you ma’am Rele just won everything in South Africa and after that he’s going overseas.

Relebohile Mofokeng
Relebohile Mofokeng. Image: Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

“You know when you are a supporter you just want to check your team, as long as it’s doing well and with the boy next to you and you’ll be happy that they can see but you don’t think about the future.

“Like now I think it’s the right time for Rele to go overseas, from my side. I was even talking to his father and said, ‘I think it’s the right time now, Rele must leave the country’.

“And he’s going, he’s gone.”

Ex-Pirates star set for new challenge

Former Orlando Pirates and Golden Arrows midfielder is currently training with Motsepe Foundation Championship side University of Pretoria.

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Willis Sob

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Willis Sob is a sports betting expert and journalist covering Nigeria and South Africa, with 16 years of experience. With a background in journalism, reporting and programme production, he specialises in football odds, and his work has appeared on OK Africa and GOAL, as well as TV, radio and podcasts.

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