Relebohile Mofokeng, now a standout performer for Orlando Pirates and the South African national team, could have been donning the colors of Kaizer Chiefs if the Amakhosi had acted on a tip-off years ago. The 20-year-old midfielder, who has become a key figure in the Premier Soccer League, was scouted as a 13-year-old in Sharpeville but ultimately slipped through Chiefs’ fingers.
Renowned South African sports photographer Pitsi Matlou recently shared how he tried to bring Mofokeng to Kaizer Chiefs’ attention during the player’s early development. “I first saw him when he was just 13,” Matlou recalled. “I contacted Chiefs’ scouts and told them about this magical young player in Sharpeville, even comparing him to a young Thulani Serero. I urged them to act, but nothing materialized.”
The missed opportunity turned into a massive gain for Orlando Pirates, who signed Mofokeng and later promoted him to their senior team during the 2022/23 season under coach Jose Riveiro. Since then, Mofokeng has grown into one of the league’s top talents and a regular call-up for Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad.
The Buccaneers’ investment in Mofokeng has paid off, with the young midfielder now a cornerstone of their success. For Kaizer Chiefs, it remains a tale of “what could have been.”
