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Relebohile Mofokeng, Orlando PiratesBackpage
Seth Willis

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos adamant Orlando Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng's form dipped because 'they made him crazy!'

The Belgian tactician is concerned that the Sea Robbers' winger has not been at his best since the reported move abroad did not materialise. The 73-year-old is concerned with the well-being of the player who is regarded as the future of South African football, alongside other cropping youngsters.

  • Relebohile Mofokeng, Orlando Pirates, October 2025Backpage

    Was Mofokeng's hope of playing abroad dimmed?

    Orlando Pirates youngster Relebohile Mofokeng was tipped to leave for greener pastures after a starring role for the club at the end of last season.

    Clubs from England, Spain, Belgium, and the likes of Al Ahly, alongside some unnamed North African teams, were also heavily linked with the versatile winger. 

    However, he ended up staying at the Soweto giants as, reportedly, Bucs turned down advances for their star player.

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  • Relebohile Mofokeng, Orlando PiratesBackpage

    How the failed move might have affected Mofokeng

    Since the season started, Mofokeng has struggled to deliver consistently for the Sea Robbers, occasionally losing his position to the likes of Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, among others.

    Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has, at times, played him in the number 10 position, which is contested by Patrick Maswanganyi and Sipho Mbule as well.

    South Africa coach Hugo Broos now believes the transfer speculations negatively affected Mofokeng. 

  • Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana, August 2025Backpage

    Broos adamant Mofokeng was unsettled by transfer talks

    “This is not my job, to interfere with this kind of thing, [advising players on clubs to join]," he told the media.

     “Why is Rele not at the level he was last year? It’s very clear, they made him crazy! 

    "You can’t ask a guy at the age of 20, that he can say yes, I’m concentrating on football, not what those guys are telling me, I’m not listening. At the end, you listen, and this is normal; you can’t blame Mofokeng for that.
    “Maybe it’s in my job to go to those guys and say pay attention to this and blah blah blah; but that’s all I can do," Broos concluded. 

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  • Relebohile Mofokeng, Orlando PiratesBackpage

    Mofokeng should step up, or else...

    Bafana Bafana are set for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco and the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

    The majority of the players are pushing and knocking on Broos' door, which, in the long run, will benefit the national team.

    If Mofokeng continues to struggle at the club level, then he just might end up losing that position, which might affect him.

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