Relebohile Mofokeng has been a regular starter for Orlando Pirates in the league but was surprisingly named on the bench for the MTN8 final. Riveiro explains.
Mofokeng came off the bench to settle the MTN8 final
19-year-old Relebohile Mofokeng has started all three of Pirates’ league games this season, wins over Chippa, Richards Bay and Polokwane. Surprisingly, he was named on the substitutes bench for the weekend’s MTN8 final win over Stellenbosch. The Sea Robbers clawed back a deficit to win 3-1, and Mofokeng made a massive impact, scoring the third goal. Jose Riveiro opted for Thabiso Monyane, Thabiso Sesane, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Innocent Maela at the back. In a slightly more conservative tactical ploy, Deon Hotto wad deployed in a left-sided attacking midfield role. That’s where Mofokeng usually operates. The Spanish tactician has explained that decision:
“You can imagine, we have a game to prepare for and a game plan to execute, with 39 players to choose from, and today [last Saturday] ‘Rele’ was chosen to be on the bench and come in after about 60 minutes,” said Riveiro via SABC.
“I think his contribution to getting this trophy was exceptionally good again, not only today but during the whole competition, and not only in that moment in the game but during the 90 minutes I think he can do it.
“But today we prepared the game to play the way we did in the first half and to use what we have on the bench in the moment we considered it necessary,” the Orlando Pirates tactician concluded.
Mofokeng makes Orlando Pirates history
Not only has the teenager scored in successive cup finals for the Buccaneers, but he’s now notched up 50 appearances for the club since his promotion in July 2023. Mofokeng was voted the Young Player of the Season in 2023-2024, a campaign culminating in Bafana Bafana recognition. Mofokeng now has nine goals and 10 assists for the Se Robbers in his fledgling career. He’ll be 20 years old later this month.
Rele is a big-game player
Pirates’ come-from-behind 3-1 win against Stellies secured a three-peat. They’re the first side in the PSL era to achieve that feat. 19-year-old Mofokeng got himself on the score sheet, something he also did in the recent Nedbank Cup final win over Sundowns. On that occasion, his was the decisive 95th-minute strike. He repeated the trick against Stellies, scoring in the 96th minute to make the trophy safe for Pirates after a controversial stoppage-time goal from Tshegofatso Mabasa.
Money rolls into the Bucs bank account
Pirates are back at the top table of African continental competition following their routine aggregate win over Jwaneng Galaxy. They’ll participate in the 2024-2024 Caf Champions League group stages, and they bank a minimum of R12 million in the process. Advancement to the quarter-finals would swell Pirates’ earnings to R15.6 million and the money keeps on getting better the further they go. Add the R10 million they just banked from their MTN8 final and the shareholders are laughing.
Can Relebohile Mofokeng become a Pirates legend?
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