Relebohile Mofokeng described winning his first trophy with Union Saint-Gilloise as a special moment after converting the decisive penalty in the Belgian Super Cup triumph over Club Brugge.
The South African attacker kept his composure from the spot to seal victory for Union SG in his competitive debut, completing a dream start to his career in Belgium.
Despite scoring the winning penalty, Mofokeng insisted the success belonged to the team.
“I don’t think it’s about my penalty,” he said. “It’s about the team’s performance. We fought until the very end, got the equalising goal, and everyone defended brilliantly. We worked hard as a team, and I think we deserved to win this trophy.”
The former Orlando Pirates star admitted he was delighted to begin his Union SG career with silverware.
“I’m very happy because I’ve won my first trophy here,” Mofokeng said. “Everyone has been very welcoming, and they’ve helped to boost my confidence. My teammates are the best, and that’s why we won this cup. We’re like a family.”
Mofokeng also revealed that head coach Arturo had informed the designated penalty takers before the shootout, a decision influenced by what he had shown in training.
“Coach Arturo spoke to us and named the players who would take the penalties,” he explained. “I think he saw me taking penalties in training yesterday, and that also gave me confidence. Scoring in my first game has given me even more confidence, so now we just have to keep going.”
Although he confidently dispatched the decisive kick, the 21-year-old admitted he felt the pressure as he placed the ball on the penalty spot.
“When I put the ball down, I was actually very nervous because the goalkeeper is a big guy and has played for a very big team,” he said. “In moments like that, you just need confidence. Once I stood there, I believed in myself, took the penalty with confidence, and that’s why I scored.”
Mofokeng’s celebration also drew attention as he broke into a South African dance after sealing the victory.
“It was just a celebration,” he said. “Back home in South Africa, we do those kinds of dances, so I was reminded of home and decided to celebrate like that.”
He added that his teammates were already familiar with the moves.
“We’ve already done it in training, so they know it now,” he said with a smile.
The victory handed Union Saint-Gilloise the Belgian Super Cup and marked a memorable first competitive appearance for Mofokeng, whose decisive contribution delivered silverware in his debut outing for the Belgian champions.
Written by: Sandile Ndumo
