Pirates coach on why talents like Mofokeng only emerge after 10 to 15 years

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou insists Relebohile Mofokeng is a generational talent that emerges only once in 10 to 15 years and therefore needs to be taken good care of.

Mofokeng continues to shine this season after scoring 10 goals so far with nine of them from his last 10 games.

The 21-year-old has come to prominence in 2026 as he continues to lead Pirates’ title charge and is enjoying great form in front of goal since being deployed in the number 10 role, to the delight of his coach.

Ouaddou in awe of ‘generational talent’ Mofokeng

☠️ 🗣️ Coach #AbdeslamOuaddou on Rele Mofokeng's exploits.

🔸 A generational talent
🔸 These kinds of players come…every 10-15years.
🔸How do they guide him to exploit certain zones on the pitch?#SABCSport411 | pic.twitter.com/DBq7OPt7Za

— Velile Mnyandu 🇿🇦 (@Velile_Mnyandu) April 8, 2026

“I don’t like to speak individually about players, the individual players should be at the service of the collective project, you know? And these individuals should carry the club project but as you asked the question, this kind of players? You get some like that every 10 or 15 years,” Ouaddou of Mofokeng as per iDiski Times.

“He has talent, it’s in his blood. He’s still young of course and we need to give him some instructions to be even more efficient, especially in that area where there is lot of duels, it’s crowded, so for us as coaches, the talent he has – technique and intelligence, he has this.

“Sometimes when you have these qualities, it’s abused – our job is to make him aware about which zone he can abuse, in terms of dribbling, but there some strategic areas of the pitch, where he needs to limit his touches and use his intelligence.”

Pirates coach on why Rele is best as a No.10

Ouaddou also weighed in on Mofokeng’s best position, making it clear that the youngster is most suited in a central role and not on the wings.

“He’s been doing that now, he can assist, score, he’s mobile in the midfield, so I used to say this kind of player, it would be a shame for him to play him on the wing, on the touchline, with 180 degrees of capacity to play, this kind of players need 360 degrees to play,” added the former Marumo Gallants coach.

“Some may think he cannot play as a 10, I think he can play everywhere… [except] as a defender.”

With Pirates just two points behind Mamelodi Sundowns with seven games to go, Mofokeng’s form will be crucial for Ouaddou’s men as they chase a first league title since 2012.