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Bafana Bafana mentor Pitso Mosimane couldn’t stop raving about 21-year-old Relebohile Mofokeng, who scored a brace in Bafana’s 5-0 win over Eritrea on Wednesday in Cairo to break his duck in the national side.
Mofokeng, who’s also been in great form for his Belgian topflight side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, had never officially scored for Bafana in his previous 16 appearances.
It is worth noting that the young sensation scored in Bafana’s 2-0 win over Lesotho in a World Cup qualifier in March last year, before Fifa nullified the fixture because SA had unlawfully played suspended Teboho Mokoena.
“Rele is a top player, and he’s showing why he’s gone to Europe. And he’s scoring, by the way, in Europe ... He’s not only scoring for us, he’s also been doing it at his club,” Mosimane said.
Mofokeng has now scored six goals and racked up two assists in the last six matches for both club and country.
I’ve told him that he needs to score goals; No 10s score goals. [The] No 10 isn’t just there to give assists and play between the line
— Pitso Mosimane, Bafana Bafana coach
Mosimane has stressed that Mofokeng, who joined Saint-Gilloise from Orlando Pirates in July, must continue to find the back of the net as a playmaker.
“It’s good that we have Rele back, and that’s the most important thing. Rele must score goals and he’s scoring goals, so we know what he can do with the ball. He’s a magician on the ball, a clever and intelligent player,” he said.
“I’ve told him that he needs to score goals; No 10s score goals. [The] No 10 isn’t just there to give assists and play between the lines ... you have to score goals because of that opportunity.
“He’s intelligent, and you don’t teach him anything ... he’s just God’s gift. What a brilliant player! I am happy for Rele.”
Mofokeng is expected to play a crucial role again when Bafana face Egypt in a friendly at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday (8pm SA time).
Mofokeng has developed to be a starter under Mosimane, having struggled to convince the previous coach, Hugo Broos, that he was ready to start matches. He started six of the 15 games he played under the Belgian, coming off the bench nine times.
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