Mofokeng urged to build on Bafana form by former youth coach

Relebohile Mofokeng’s impressive performances in South Africa’s recent 2027 AFCON qualifiers have prompted his former youth coach to call for more from the 21-year-old.

The Bafana Bafana midfielder appeared sharper and more decisive in the number ten role during the 2-1 victory against Guinea before scoring twice in the 5-0 win over Eritrea.

Mofokeng has also been producing strong displays for Union Saint-Gilloise, and Masimanyane Xali believes the player successfully transferred that club form to the national team.

Xali, who helped develop Mofokeng at the School of Excellence, said the midfielder had taken advantage of an opportunity after not being regarded as a regular starter by former Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

“He’s been playing well for his club, so I think he just brought his club form to the national team. I would say the opportunity is there but it’s up to him to take it. I think with the way he has played in the last two games, he is putting his hand up,” Xali told KickOff.

However, Xali warned that Mofokeng’s recent displays did not guarantee him a starting position under the new coach.

“But I don’t think he’s automatically guaranteed that because there’s a new coach he’s going to start. But I know he’s going to work hard for it and hopefully he will get more opportunities to show what he can do.”

Xali said Mofokeng’s success was also linked to being used in his preferred position, having spent much of last season playing as a number ten.

Mofokeng’s preferred position

“I’m happy for him and I think also he’s playing the position he prefers the most, I think and his best position. So it’s no surprise also seeing him doing this well. I just expect and hope for more from him,” said Xali, who has since been appointed at Mangaung United.

“Last season he played as a ten, the season before when they were in the Champions League, I think against Al Ahly, he played as a ten and after that game you could see the plan was to put him as a ten. And the whole of last season he played as a ten.”

Mofokeng’s development at Orlando Pirates also formed part of the discussion when Xali was asked whether Jose Riveiro or Abdeslam Ouaddou had had the greater influence on him.

Xali said both coaches had played important roles at different stages of the player’s progress.

“Look I think he did well under coach Ouaddou, he did exceptionally well but I think also under Riveiro, he was also great. The game I’m talking about was still Riveiro. So I think he needed more games to adjust because he had been used to being on the wing,” he said.

“I think both coaches have been great for him, I can’t say this one is better than the other one. With Riveiro he needed the breakthrough and Ouaddou came in when he needed to cement his place and I think he was great for both and both of them were great for him,” Xali added.