Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo has advised against not letting Orlando Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng leave for a team like Barcelona.
The 20-year-old has been hitting greater heights since making his senior team debut two seasons ago. He is currently one of the key players for the Sea Robbers who have been doing quite well this season across all competitions.
Mofokeng has been linked with a move to Spain to play for Barca B, with Al Ahly, Zamalek and Wolverhampton Rangers, and Belgian outfits among the other teams linked with the South Africa international.
Dr. Khumalo says it is a massive chance for the youngster to play with the best in the world.
‘Let's not have fear' – Dr. Khumalo
“Come on guys! As a nation, when are we going to pride ourselves with having released youngsters to go overseas and learn? Let’s allow Rele to go,” he opened up to the media.
“Let’s not have fear. If Barca could take a young and even sickly Messi out of Argentina and groom him into the world superstar he became, why do we not trust them to do the same with Rele?
“On paper, we know Barcelona is a big team, but I don’t think those guys are going to throw him into the deep end. My reading of it is that they’ve spotted his potential, and they want him now so they can get him ready for the senior team in two years’ time.
“So, he will be with the B team to learn and understand the culture and the norms of Barcelona. That’s what they did for Messi, because he was just a player who had that disease, and they helped him medically and sportingly. All their top players at Barca, your Iniesta, Xavi and Puyol, come from the development,” the former attacker continued.
‘Barcelona guys are not stupid'
“I can tell you from experience that Rele will benefit from it. I went to Argentina, which was already established, but when I got there, they had me work with a physical trainer for three weeks, a three-hour session daily to get me fitter. I remember when I came back home I’d bulked up and my parents did not recognize me,” Dr. Khumalo continued.
“I think the Barcelona guys are not stupid, they are going to make sure that this boy is exactly what Yamal is – he is not a big boy, but physically, he is able to take opponents on, and Rele will be able to do that. We must let the players go if the opportunity comes because they are very rare. How can you say no to Barcelona?
“This could be a really historical moment for South African football, and I hope whatever third force that might be against Rele moving there gets released. Forget that it is only the B side; they are not signing him for today; they are looking at tomorrow. They’ve seen potential, and they know what they want to do with it,” he concluded.
