Relebohile Mofokeng has backed Orlando Pirates teenage sensation Mpho Padime to surpass what he achieved at the club after the youngster decided to take over his iconic number 38 shirt.
Mofokeng wore the number 38 during his breakthrough years at Pirates before securing a move to Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, with Padime now carrying the shirt as he begins to make his own mark in the Buccaneers’ first team.
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The 17-year-old has already attracted significant attention with his performances, and Mofokeng revealed that Padime contacted him personally to discuss taking his former number.
“He called me that day and told me he’s going to wear number 38, then I asked him what’s the big deal with number 38 and he said he felt they should have retired it,” Mofokeng told SuperSport.
Mofokeng, however, believes the number should not be treated as something untouchable, insisting that Padime has the talent to go beyond what he achieved at Pirates.
“Then I asked him why would they retire it because it’s not like I did something wow. I played well and had a good career at Pirates, and you can even surpass it, so why retire the jersey,” he added.
Rather than placing pressure on Padime because of the history attached to the number, Mofokeng encouraged the youngster to embrace the opportunity and create his own legacy.
“He said I did a lot of things so I told him with his talent he can even do better. He has a lot of talent, even better than mine, but his mentality has to switch,” Mofokeng explained.
The former Pirates star believes the next step for Padime is turning his obvious ability into consistent end product, particularly in front of goal.
“He must work to get goals and assists. I think everything will be okay. Yes, he’s going to be a top talent.”
Padime has emerged as one of the most exciting young players at Pirates, with his directness and technical ability offering a glimpse of why the club has placed faith in his development.
For Mofokeng, the number 38 is therefore not a burden that Padime needs to carry, but an opportunity for the teenager to establish his own identity at Pirates – and potentially achieve even more than his predecessor.