Hugo Broos explains why Orlando Pirates starlet Relebohile Mofokeng is not yet ripe to start for Bafana Bafana - 'He is not a powerful player'

Relebohile Mofokeng has made five appearances for Bafana Bafana since making his debut against Zimbabwe in June.

He has been coming on as a substitute in all the games he has played for the national team.

While he has turned himself into a regular starter for Orlando Pirates, he is still to cement his place in the Bafana setup and coach Hugo Broos explains why the starlet is yet to be in the starting line-up for South Africa.

“You need that [power] in modern football; it’s something that is normal,” said Broos as per FARPost.  

“Football technically, you have to be good. This is normal, but there is something, and that is the physical side of football, that you have to be able to play 90 minutes and also to have the power. 

“And we have that power in our team now, and we had it also in Afcon, and that’s why we [came out with] good results.

"That’s why we can compete with teams like Algeria and Ivory Coast, what we did in March and last year in November," the Belgian added.

“I think two years ago it was not possible, and this is also something that I mean when I say that the level of PSL is not high enough. Technically, it’s okay, there are good players. 

“But yeah, this and that’s why I always try to have players like Mofokeng. It’s a little bit too early now to put him from the beginning, but Mofokeng is not a powerful player," continued the former Cameroon coach.

“So, you need someone next to him that can do the work for him. And this is what we try to do whenever we select players.”

At 20, Mofokeng is the youngest member of Broos' South Africa squad.

With Bafana arriving in Uganda and hosting South Sudan having already qualified for Afcon, there was less pressure on Broos' men and Mofokeng was expected to be handed an opportunity to start the matches.

But the Buccaneers midfielder was an unused substitute against the Cranes and featured for 16 minutes against South Sudan after replacing club teammate Patrick Maswanganyi.

Pirates are expected to kickstart their 2024-25 Caf Champions League group-stage campaign with a trip to CR Beluizdad next Tuesday.

This is a tournament that is expected to further prepare him for international football and by the time Bafana resume their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in March 2025, he might have gained some continental experience.