Relebohile Mofokeng’s childhood coach Isaac ‘Ngamla’ Mphashane has revealed what he said to the youngster after helping Orlando Pirates complete a treble last season to move abroad.
Mphashane coached the new Royale Union Saint Gilloise attacker in his early years before Mofokeng was identified by the School of Excellence which also paved his path to the Soweto side.
The attacker was part of the Bafana Bafana squad that made history by getting out of the group for the first time at the World Cup before signing a four-year deal with the Belgian Pro League side.
Mphashane told Rachel Makhura on Sport Night Amplified With Andile he told the 21-year-old it was time to go and shouldn’t return home until he retires.
“I told Rele before he left after they won the PSL League, I said to him ‘boy you won everything now it’s time to leave and I don’t want to see yourself coming back being here again in South Africa. Just retire when you come back home’,” said Mphashane.
“He won’t come back home [early]. He’s going to play UEFA [Champions League] and win UEFA again. He’s still young. 30 years, 32 years he can come back home.
“Like I said to you ma’am Rele just won everything in South Africa and after that he’s going overseas.
“You know when you are a supporter you just want to check your team, as long as it’s doing well and with the boy next to you and you’ll be happy that they can see but you don’t think about the future.
“Like now I think it’s the right time for Rele to go overseas, from my side. I was even talking to his father and said, ‘I think it’s the right time now, Rele must leave the country’.
“And he’s going, he’s gone.”
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