Relebohile Mofokeng is no longer a teenager after celebrating his 20th birthday on Wednesday October 23, beginning another chapter in his promising career.
As he turns 20, Mofokeng already has the world at his feet as he is one of South Africa’s bright prospects following his brilliant start to his senior team career at Orlando Pirates.
How it started
The Sharpeville-born winger started his journey at SAFA-Transnet School of Excellence where he was scouted by Pirates and it was not long before the Buccaneers snapped him up, joining their youth setup ahead of the 2022-23 season.
He made an immediate impact in the DStv Diski Challenge and just months after his debut in the PSL Reserve League, he was promoted to the senior team at the back end of the 2022-23 season.
Senior team career
Rele, as he is popularly known, made his senior team debut on May 3, 2023, playing 90 minutes in a PSL match against Royal AM, with his second game coming 17 days later, when he also scored his debut goal in the league, as Pirates beat AmaZulu 4-0.
He came of age in 2023-24, when he played 38 games across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing six assists, to be named Young Player of the Season.
Mofokeng has started 2024-25 in great fashion too, with three goals and as many assists to his name in 12 games, and he is now a regular who rarely misses from coach Jose Riveiro’s starting XI.
What makes him stand out?
Blessed with pace, football brain and bravery, Rele is a right-footed winger who plays on the left, allowing him to cut inside on his stronger foot or outside to beat his markers.
He is a nightmare for full-backs who have a hard time defending against him as his quick feet sees him win most of the one-on-one battles.
Mofokeng is also not afraid to play centrally and can open up a tight defence with his intelligent runs and passes. He can also kill off teams who play a high line, especially on the counterattack.
Trophies & goals in cup finals
At 20, Mofokeng has already won three trophies, the Nedbank Cup in 2023-24 and the MTN8 twice, last season and this term.
He is also a big-game player as witnessed last term when he settled the Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns with an 95th minute winner and also provided a late assist, albeit in controversial fashion, before scoring the third as Pirates beat Stellenbosch 3-1 to win the MTN8 this season.
What has been said about Rele?
His coach Riveiro has told him to keep his feet on the ground if he wants to enjoy a successful career.
“It is difficult to know the age of Rele when you see him on the pitch. It is just a number, he needs to continue improving like he still has a lot of space to become a better player so the future belongs to him,” Riveiro told SuperSport TV hours before he turned 20.
What does the future hold?
Mofokeng was heavily linked with a move abroad after last season and even though a transfer did not materialise, his former Bucs development coach Mandla Qhogi believes this is the time to make the big switch.
“For me, it will be a good time for him to go overseas. It is the right time and there are things that he would learn if he were to move now at this stage of his career. The more we keep him this side, it could mean that we are delaying him. He is 20, and I think it is the right time for him to move if he has to be sold overseas,” said Qhogi.
