South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has made a decisive statement about the future role of rising star Relebohile Mofokeng, insisting the 21-year-old will no longer be deployed as a winger for the national team.
The announcement follows a standout weekend performance from the Orlando Pirates attacker, who scored his first senior career hat-trick in a dominant 6-0 victory over TS Galaxy.
The result lifted Pirates back to the top of the table, ahead of rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, and further underlined Mofokeng’s growing influence.
In recent weeks, the young forward has increasingly been used in a more central role, operating just behind the main striker.
It is a position he excelled in during his development years, and one that Broos now believes best suits his attributes at senior level.
Speaking about the player’s progress, Broos highlighted both his recent form and the challenges he has overcome.
“He’s on the right time in good shape, not only for him, but Rele was in a period looking for himself, he became very quick a star here in South Africa and once you have that level, things become difficult,” Broos said.
“It happened with Rele, there was so much things around his head that he forgot to play football and this is totally normal, I don’t blame him for that, being such a young guy and then suddenly everyone wants to be with you, it’s difficult to manage that.
“So he didn’t have such a good season last season in Pirates and this season, little by little you saw him coming and now you see Rele again, the one everyone wants to see, a very good player and in a different position.”
Broos was particularly clear about how he intends to use Mofokeng going forward, ruling out a return to the flanks against stronger opposition.
“He’s playing more central and this is the future for Rele, he’s not a winger. He can play on the wings against an opponent that’s not so strong, but against stronger opponents, he will never player a good game because he’s not a winger.
“He doesn’t have that explosivity or on the line dribbling as a player. That’s not his qualities, his qualities are his intelligence, his good passes, using the spaces, that’s where Rele is the best and I think now that the coach at Pirates will give him that position.
Mofokeng’s numbers this season further support his growing reputation.
He has scored eight goals and provided six assists in 28 appearances across all competitions for Pirates, marking him as one of the most promising young talents in South African football.
He has now been included in the Bafana Bafana squad as one of two playmakers, alongside experienced midfielder Themba Zwane, for upcoming international friendlies against Panama.
The matches, scheduled to take place in Durban and Cape Town, form part of South Africa’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The fixtures will be Broos’ side’s first since their 2-1 defeat to Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations last-16 stage in Morocco.
