Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has backed Relebohile Mofokeng to succeed in Europe, urging supporters to be patient as the Orlando Pirates star edges closer to an anticipated move to Belgian champions Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Broos believes the 21-year-old possesses all the attributes to excel in Europe but stressed that adapting to the physical demands of Belgian football will take time.
“I think it’s a good thing for him. I think he will progress,” Broos told SABC Sport.
“But I also think you don’t have to expect that from the first day he will play because Rele [Mofokeng] has to be stronger.
“It’s a very tough competition in Belgium, so I think the first five or six months will be focused on improving his fitness to get a little bit stronger. And then, yeah… he is a talented player, and once he has the power he needs for such a competition, there will be no problem at all.”
Mofokeng is coming off a sensational campaign with Orlando Pirates, playing a pivotal role as the Buccaneers completed a domestic treble. The gifted attacker registered 11 goals and nine assists in 36 appearances across all competitions, underlining his growing influence at club level.
Since breaking into the Pirates first team, Mofokeng has established himself as one of South Africa’s brightest young talents. He is set to leave the Soweto giants after making 125 appearances, scoring 29 goals and providing 31 assists.
If the transfer is finalised, Mofokeng will become the second South African to represent Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, following in the footsteps of Percy Tau, who enjoyed a successful spell at the Belgian club before earning a move to the English Premier League.
The exciting forward has also continued to impress on the international stage. His standout performance for Bafana Bafana against Czechia highlighted his composure, creativity and fearlessness against quality opposition, further reinforcing his reputation as one of Africa’s most promising young talents.
While Broos expects an adjustment period in Belgium, he has little doubt that Mofokeng’s talent will eventually shine through. Once the youngster adapts to the physical demands of European football, the Bafana coach believes he has everything needed to establish himself in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues.
Written by: Sandile Ndumo
