Hugo Broos redefines Relebohile Mofokeng’s role as South Afric shift playmaker focus ahead of World Cup

Hugo Broos has drawn a clear line over Relebohile Mofokeng’s role in the national team, confirming the rising star will now be deployed centrally and no longer considered a winger for Bafana Bafana.

The decision marks a significant tactical shift as South Africa fine-tune their squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mofokeng’s evolution into a playmaker has accelerated in recent weeks, culminating in a standout performance for Orlando Pirates, where he struck his first senior hat-trick in a commanding 6-0 win over TS Galaxy.

The result propelled Pirates back to the top of the league standings, ahead of rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, and underlined the 21-year-old’s growing influence in the final third.

While his recent exploits have captured attention, Broos insists the positional switch is not reactionary but part of a longer-term plan. The Belgian coach has consistently monitored Mofokeng’s development and now believes the attacking midfielder is maturing into his most effective role at precisely the right time for the national team.

“He’s on the right time in good shape, not only for him, but Rele was in a period looking for himself,” Broos said, reflecting on the player’s journey. “He became very quick a star here in South Africa and once you have that level, things become difficult.”

Broos acknowledged that Mofokeng’s rapid rise brought challenges, particularly in managing expectations and external pressures at a young age. Those factors, he suggested, contributed to an inconsistent previous campaign, but the current season has shown a steady return to form.

“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.”

Central to Broos’ assessment is a firm belief that Mofokeng’s attributes are better suited to operating behind the striker rather than out wide. The coach highlighted the player’s intelligence, movement and passing range as key strengths that are best utilised in tighter, more influential areas of the pitch.

“He’s playing more central and this is the future for Rele, he’s not a winger,” Broos explained. “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.”

With that clarity, Mofokeng is now set to feature as one of Bafana’s primary creative outlets, alongside veteran playmaker Themba Zwane, in the squad selected for upcoming friendlies against Panama. The fixtures form part of South Africa’s broader preparations for the World Cup, where tactical cohesion and role definition will be crucial.

Mofokeng’s numbers this season further support his growing importance. With eight goals and six assists in 28 appearances across all competitions, he has become a decisive figure for Pirates and now carries that momentum into the international stage.

“And it’s not that he scored three times yesterday that we saying, ‘ah you see’, no, no this is something we know as his best position,” Broos added. “He’s coming, that I can tell you – to Bafana to play that position and not on the wings anymore.”