No matter how old you are or how famous you become, in your parents' eyes, you will forever be their child, and this is no different for Orlando Pirates' budding young talent Relebohile Mofokeng.
In the 2022/23 local football season, Mofokeng played two games in the DStv Premiership, which was a dress rehearsal for this past season where he became a regular feature for the Buccaneers.
The skillful attacker only missed four league games in the last term as he cemented his place in Jose Riveiro’s team.
Mofokeng’s scintillating displays earned him a call-up to the national team where he made his Bafana Bafana debut in a recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe.
With all the newly found stardom and spotlight constantly shining on him, Mofokeng may be destined for greatness, but at home, he remains his father’s little boy.
Sechaba Mofokeng, the manager and father to the Pirates star, told Metro FM that his primary target is to keep the 19-year-old grounded as ‘Rele’ still lives under his roof.
'Watch the space. Soon we will tell a different story.'
“He does not have any chance. He is a young man and I have to send him around [in the house]. I tell him to wash sneakers and he does so. He stays at home, there is nowhere he is going,” Mofokeng Sr. said on Metro FM.
“Rele will always be young. I told him the other day that he has to listen to older boys who have been there before and he must make sure he listens and he learns. Everyone will want to give him advice but it is up to him as to which advice he will take.
“There are many people who have knocked on my door and some calling me, but at the moment it is me and his mom who is managing him,” he added.
‘Rele’ came on in the dying moments of the 3-1 win over The Warriors at the Free State Stadium. His father could not be any prouder.
“I was there personally. Me and my wife were there to support him and it was an emotional moment for us,” said Mofokeng Sr.
“I don’t want to lie, we were happy. We did not [care] about whether it was only 10 seconds, we were happy to see him in a Bafana jersey.
“We are praying that he must work harder and the coach will give him his chance,” he concluded.
Mofokeng has also been named in Bafana’s 50-man preliminary squad for the 2024 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup to be staged in Port Elizabeth.
The regional competition will run from June 26 until July 7. South Africa’s assistant coach Helman Mkhalele will lead the team with the hope of bagging the sixth title and the first since the 2021 edition.
Relebohile Mofokeng making his Bafana Bafana debut! What an unbelievable turn out at Bloemfontein!
— Cellular® (@Cellular_jnr) June 11, 2024
C’bakhathazile!!! 😂😂🇿🇦💪🏿 pic.twitter.com/NGqldi5t4F
