Relebohile Mofokeng’s journey to Orlando Pirates could have taken a very different turn, as the talented winger was closely pursued by other top PSL teams before joining the Buccaneers.
Mofokeng Almost Signed for Sundowns or Sekhukhune
Former Pirates youth coach, Mandla Qhogi, revealed that Mofokeng was on the radar of several clubs, including Mamelodi Sundowns, who made a strong attempt to sign the youngster. Sundowns even offered a significant sum to the School of Excellence in hopes of securing his signature. However, Mofokeng had already committed to Pirates, with Qhogi describing how they had to follow him through multiple tournaments to seal the deal. Despite the attention from other clubs, including Sekhukhune United, Mofokeng ultimately chose to join the Sea Robbers.
Qhogi shared his experience with FarPost, saying:
“I first saw Rele play in a tournament, unaware that he was part of the School of Excellence. After discovering who he was, we pursued him further, even following him during the Engen Tournament. There were many teams interested, but we moved quickly to sign him.”
After discussions with the School of Excellence and Mofokeng’s parents, the deal was finalized, and the talented winger became part of Orlando Pirates.
Pirates Reject Massive Offer from Zamalek
Orlando Pirates turned down a staggering R25.8 million offer from Egyptian giants Zamalek for Mofokeng, according to SoccerLaduma. The young Bafana Bafana star has already made a significant impact, contributing 10 goals and 11 assists this season across all competitions, solidifying his importance to the team.
Pirates Suffer Injury Blow with Sesane’s Long-Term Absence
In other news, Orlando Pirates will have to cope with a major injury setback as central defender Thabiso Sesane is out for an extended period due to a tendon injury sustained during the hard-fought victory over Sekhukhune. Sesane missed Pirates’ 4-1 loss to Sundowns and is expected to be sidelined for several months, potentially up to six or more, as tendon injuries often require surgery and lengthy recovery periods.
Pirates’ Next Challenges
Despite the tough 4-1 defeat to Sundowns, there’s still hope for the Sea Robbers in the title race. Sundowns also suffered a surprising loss to TS Galaxy, meaning Pirates still have a chance to close the gap, trailing by nine points but with two games in hand. Up next, Pirates face Baroka in the Nedbank Cup Round of 16 on Saturday, February 15, at home, followed by a Premiership clash against Golden Arrows on Wednesday, February 19.
