Left behind? Mohau Nkota and Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s moves abroad force a new reality for Relebohile Mofokeng
Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana starlet Relebohile Mofokeng has had to watch his teammates seal moves abroad at the same time he struggles for form.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Relebohile Mofokeng has been the name on everyone’s lips for the last two and a half-years.
Ever since he was introduced into the Orlando Pirates first team by Jose Riveiro, "President yama2000" has continued to impress with one good performance after another.
One moment that comes to mind when thinking about his impact for his club is his stoppage time winner in the Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns during the 2023/24 campaign.
South Africa took note, and the hype created was loud enough to get a few European clubs looking at him. Barcelona reportedly registered an interest, as did a number of other clubs. Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven had a bid rejected, while American outfit Minnesota United were also keen.
However, a move abroad didn’t materialise for Mofokeng. Instead, the 2025/26 season has seen him facing some adversity. He experienced a dip in form, and when he was starting to find himself again, he got injured.
For the national team, he went from an exciting prospect trusted by coach Hugo Broos to a spectator who watched from the bench as Bafana Bafana booked their place in next year’s World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
It all happened at the worst possible moment: just as his own momentum stalled, the players around him began to surge forward.
While he was going through his struggles, he’s had to watch two of his teammates seal moves abroad. In the off-season, Nkota, who came through the ranks at Pirates with Mofokeng, was signed by Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq, and has gone from strength to strength. He’s also done enough to become a regular starter for Bafana Bafana.
And earlier this week, a number of reports have suggested that centre-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi is on the verge of signing for MLS side Chicago Fire. Like Mofokeng and Nkota, Mbokazi is a product of Pirates’ youth system.
While he will be happy for his teammates, seeing his friends playing overseas – when he was once at the front of that queue – will affect him mentally, and he will need his support network now more than ever.
Yet for all the frustration and uncertainty, this moment could become the turning point in Mofokeng’s journey. Watching Nkota and Mbokazi take their chances abroad may sting, but it also sharpens his hunger to reclaim the momentum he built for himself.
The true test now is how he responds: whether he allows doubt to settle, or uses this period to rediscover the swagger, fearlessness and creativity that made him such a phenomenon in the first place. If he finds that spark again – and surrounds himself with people who remind him of who he really is – there is no reason his own move abroad cannot still come.
In football, careers are shaped not only by timing, but by resilience, and Mofokeng has one more chance to show he has it in abundance.
IOL Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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