Ouaddou highlights special quality that makes Mofokeng one of the best in the world

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has explained the qualities that make Relebohile Mofokeng one of the best young players in the world.

Mofokeng is widely regarded as the best young player in South Africa at the moment and has backed it up with top performances for his club and the national team.

Ouaddou, who has been coaching the 21-year-old winger since the start of this season, is particularly thrilled with one quality that he feels makes him stand out from the others, being his quick decision-making.

What makes Mofokeng tick?

“The capacity to eliminate the opponent, the capacity to scan and to know what he is going to do before receiving the ball,” Ouaddou said when explaining what makes Mofokeng tick.

“It is something that is interesting for me because I think he is the future of football,” added the Moroccan coach.

“And it is what makes his strength actually because he is not a tall or physical player but he can imbalance any team in the world with his quality to see before receiving the ball and to have quick decision-making,” Ouaddou further stated.

Pirates star is a big-game player

Mofokeng continues to receive praise for his match-winning qualities at Pirates where he has been decisive especially in big games like the 2023-24 Nedbank Cup final, last season’s MTN8 final as well as the Carling Knockout final of this season when he scored key goals.

The Sharpeville-born forward was Pirates’ best player last season with 12 goals and 15 assists, which saw him crowned the PSL Young Player of the Year, but he started 2025-26 slowly with injuries also disrupting him.

He has also been linked with moves abroad since 2024 but none is yet to materialise although it is believed it is just a matter of time before he joins paid ranks overseas.