After four goals in four matches for Orlando Pirates, Relebohile Mofokeng has walked away with the Premier Soccer League’s Player of the Month award, the same gong he took in February.
The 21-year-old from Sharpville first scored in the 2-1 win over Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, before his maiden career hat-trick in the 6-0 win over TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium last weekend.
WHY RELEBOHILE MOFOKENG IS ORLANDO PIRATES’ SPECIAL TALENT
The former School of Excellence kid has marked an overall eight goals and six assists this season. Known as “President Yama 2000,” Mofokeng is also the only player in the Betway Premiership with as many as five Man of the Match awards this season.
After 12 goals and 15 assitsts last season, no less than three clubs from abroad tabled offers to sign the attacking midfielder/left winger, which Orlando Pirates all turned down.
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The Saudi side, Al Ettifaq, offered around R26.9 million, while MLS outfit Minnesota United bid R34.9 million. Russian club Akron Tolyatti tabled R26 million bid.
HOW DID THE CLUB DISCOVER HIM?
Soon before Mofokeng made his Orlando Pirates debut under former coach Jose Riveiro in the 2023/24 season aged 17, the youngster dazzled defenders in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) reserve league. It was his first season after joining from the revered Transnet School of Excellence.
Orlando Pirates had scouted him the previous year in the Pirates under 19 cup. Four of his School of Excellence peers all went to Mamelodi Sundowns (Ntandoyenkosi Nkosi, Onele Rulwana, Siyabonga Mabena, and Kutlwano Letlhaku).
Mofokeng, despite strong interest from Sundowns, chose to sign for Orlando Pirates instead.
Also read: Reports: Pirates signing two players from Arrows for next season
BAFANA BAFANA DUTY
In the meantime, Mofokeng, who has become a fully established Bafana Bafana international with 10 caps, is currently in camp with the national side.
In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, USA and Canada in June, Bafana will take on Panama in two back to back friendlies.
The first showdown is on Friday night at 19:00 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, before the second game at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday 31 March at 19:30.
Bafana will open the 2026 World Cup on 11 June against hosts Mexico. The game will kick off at 21:00 from the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE ORLANDO PIRATES STAR AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN JUNE?
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