Following reports of overseas interest in Orlando Pirates’ young talent Relebohile Mofokeng, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos admitted that he wishes to see him stay in South Africa for one more season.
Mofokeng set the DStv Premiership alight last season after being promoted to the first team from the Pirates development. He scored four goals and provided six assists in 37 appearances across all competitions. Mofokeng also aided Pirates qualify for the CAF Champions League.
His performances did not go unnoticed as he earned his first national team call-up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers double-header against Nigeria and Zimbabwe next month.
A season ago, Broos commented on Toronto FC forward Cassius Mailula’s move to America’s Major League Soccer being a mistake as it was too early in his career. Mailula has since struggled to nail a regular starting berth and is currently out of the Bafana fold.
The Belgian mentor didn’t mince his words when comparing Mailula’s current situation in the MLS, and advised the 19-year-old prospect to stay put at the Buccaneers for another season.
“No! That’s what I said also with [Cassius] Mailula. This is not the right moment to go overseas,” Broos told the media.
“He played what? 18 games, he doesn’t have international experience nothing. What I said about Mailula I repeat it now to Mofokeng stay at Pirates.
“Play another season here in South Africa with the Champions League maybe hopefully and then he will be a better player. You see what happened with Mailula. He went to Toronto and there were two former Italian internationals, what are you going to do with a little guy from South Africa there?
“He didn’t play many games he is on the bench. What does he learn there? I hope the agent of Mofokeng is more clever than the one of Mailula and he decides what is important for the player not important for him.
“Let’s see what happens and I hope that he stays at Pirates, that he plays another season.”
Mofokeng is part of Broos’ squad that will make the trip to Uyo for their crunch clash against Nigeria on Friday, June 7, before taking on Zimbabwe at home on Tuesday, June 11.
