Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Andile Jali has warned starlet Relebohile Mofokeng to first make sure he really wants to move abroad and not make the decision based on the noise around him.
Mofokeng, 21, has enjoyed an impressive stint in the Pirates first team since his promotion two seasons ago that has also seen him break into the senior national team and also impressed on the international stage.
Last season, he was a finalist for the Player of the Season award and this term some people are already tipping him to be a finalist again with nine goals and six assists in 21 league appearances so far.
He’s a had a trial stint with English Premier League side Wolves while there has been reports linking him to several European clubs in Spain, France and Scotland. Recently there has been reports of an interest from French side Monaco.
Meanwhile, Jali who spent four years in Belgium with KV Oostende, told iDiski Times senior journalist Matshelane Mamabolo in edition 250 of the newspaper that there is a lot Mofokeng should consider before making a big decision like that but on top of it all it should come from the youngster himself.
“It all depends on him and his mentality at the moment,” Jali told iDiski Times.
“What’s his mood? How does he himself feel about going overseas? Because I suspect now, what he feels in South Africa is like people are pushing him, and they’re trying to push him harder to go overseas. Sometimes that could be stressful; that part might be stressing him.
“But as a person, he must first understand that if he’s taking that step, no one will know him in Europe. No one will be cheering for him in Europe until he makes his own name there. So, it’s something; it’s a process he needs to be ready for.
“He’s going to be alone at a new club and face new challenges; a new language, a new culture, a new lifestyle – those things are important for him to consider before he says ‘now I am ready to go to Europe’.
The former Bafana Bafana international reiterated there is no place like home where one is adored and warns that being away can destroy a player’s confidence if they are not strong enough.
“The way they treat you here at home, it is not going to be the same as how they will treat you anywhere overseas, be it in Europe or other places,” added Jali.
“It is a tough environment out there, and you need to be prepared to work hard. Coming from where you are adored to a place where you are almost nobody can be hard, and if you are not strong, it can destroy your confidence.”
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