Relebohile Mofokeng scores winning penalty as Union Saint-Gilloise lift Belgian Super Cup

Former Orlando Pirates forward Relebohile Mofokeng says he was “very scared” before taking the decisive penalty in Union Saint-Gilloise’s Belgian Super Cup victory over Club Brugge.

The 21-year-old kept his composure to convert the winning spot-kick as Union secured a 5-4 shoot-out victory after the match finished 1-1. The Super Cup brought together the Belgian league champions and Belgian Cup winners, with Mofokeng helping his new side claim the first silverware of the season.

The triumph marked a dream beginning to life in Belgium for the South African, who said the support of his new team-mates had helped him settle quickly and gave him the confidence to accept responsibility from the penalty spot.

“I am happy because I won my first cup here, very excited for everyone, very welcoming, and everyone was there to help me, to boost my confidence, that’s why I went to the penalty,” Mofokeng said.

“So, I think my teammates are the best. That’s why we won this cup and we are family.”

The Bafana Bafana midfielder was selected among Union’s penalty takers after impressing during training on the eve of the match. He said being included in the shoot-out helped strengthen his belief before the game reached its decisive stage.

“The coach came to us and told us the names of the people who are kicking because they saw me kicking yesterday at training.

“So it boosts my confidence also because it was the first goal in the first game. The confidence is high now. We can keep on going.”

Mofokeng then faced Club Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, a player he described as an imposing figure with experience at a major club. Despite his nerves, the former Orlando Pirates star said confidence was essential in such a moment.

“When I put the ball down, I was very scared because obviously he’s a big man. He used to play for a very big team. So I think you just need confidence in this type of games.

“I got confidence when I stood there with confidence and I kicked the penalty with confidence. That’s why I scored.”

After his successful kick secured the trophy, Mofokeng celebrated with a dance familiar to supporters in South Africa. He explained that the move was inspired by home and had already become something he shared with his team-mates in training.

“It’s celebrations in South Africa, we’re used to those dances, so I just remembered back home. That’s why I did that thing. My teammates know the dance, we had already did it in training.”

The victory gives Mofokeng an early piece of silverware with Union Saint-Gilloise and leaves him confident that the club can build on its successful start to the campaign.