Mofokeng’s Pirates loyalty rewarded with extraordinary house bet

Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza promised Relebohile Mofokeng a house if the club won the Betway Premiership title, while the player would have had to pay R200 000 if they failed.

The details of the unusual agreement, made before the start of last season, were revealed during the fifth episode of season two of Giants, broadcast on SuperSport TV last Sunday.

Mofokeng, now 22, subsequently rejected offers from European clubs and stayed with Orlando Pirates, helping them secure their first league title in 14 years.

Former Pirates player Tebogo Moloi said he was not surprised by Khoza’s gesture, although he acknowledged that the scale of the reward was unprecedented.

“Honestly speaking, Lunga, I am not surprised. It’s not the first time the chairman is doing a gesture like this, but with this one, he has gone overboard,” Moloi said.

“He has broken records with this one. The one of Rele is bigger than what he has done previously for a lot of us.”

Moloi, who continues to represent the club’s values after his playing career, said he had previously described Mofokeng as a special talent because of the excitement he creates whenever he receives the ball.

He also believes Khoza recognised qualities in Mofokeng reminiscent of four players he has always held in the highest regard: King ‘Kaizer Matatazela’ Mkhwanazi, Percy ‘Chippa’ Moloi, Kaizer Motaung and Jomo Sono.

“You must listen to the chairman when he talks about my dad, and for him to see Rele reliving those moments of all those great players, I can tell you there’s a reason why the chairman made that bet,” Moloi said.

“If you look at it, for him to put Pirates ahead of Europe is unheard of.”

Moloi recalled that his own experience was very different. When Walter Rautmann presented him with an offer to join Austria Vienna, he wanted to leave, but Khoza refused to let him go. Instead, Pirates loaned him out.

He said Mofokeng’s decision showed a level of commitment that was unusual among young players.

“No sound youngster can refuse an overseas offer and go and say, ‘I want Pirates first to win the league,’” Moloi said. “That’s why I’m saying he’s special in a sense that he put Pirates ahead.”

Moloi added that Mofokeng appeared to have an exceptional relationship with the ball, recalling former Pirates player Sunday’s observation that “the ball listens to him”.

He suggested Khoza’s decision to make the bet was linked to his belief that the player should only leave for an exceptional opportunity, while the reward represented a promise the chairman intended to keep.

Moloi also connected the moment to Khoza’s long-standing claim that Orlando Pirates could transform players’ lives. He recalled the chairman’s message in 1993: “Win me the Iwisa Spectacular, win me the BP Top 8, and Pirates is going to change lives.”

“He always sticks to his promises and whatever that he says he’ll do for you,” Moloi said.

He described the story as emotional and said Mofokeng had become “living proof” of the positive things happening behind the scenes at Orlando Pirates.