Relebohile Mofokeng recently produced one of his standout performances of the season for Orlando Pirates, delighting coach Abdeslam Ouaddou with his versatility and dynamism.
Pirates got their second half of the season up and running at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday night, beating Magesi 2–0 as they climbed to second place in the Betway Premiership with 32 points, level with leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played one game more.
Mofokeng’s Star Performance Against Magesi
Mofokeng starred in that game. He assisted Yanela Mbuthuma’s opening goal before getting on the scoresheet himself just before half-time with a well-taken strike after a beautiful team build-up in which he was also involved.
Mofokeng’s impressive performance was evident all round. He was able to control the tempo of the game with deft touches and incisive runs on and off the ball, fitting in nicely in the No. 10 role behind Mbuthuma.
Ouaddou, speaking during his post-match press conference, revealed what brought out the best in Mofokeng against Magesi, especially after a slow start to the season.
“I think when you train players like that with such talent, you have to identify their qualities and the positions where they can play,” Ouaddou explained.
“We knew that he’s able to play on the side, and with the qualities that he has, he can also help us in the middle, and that’s what he did. I told you that he’s somebody who is able to see before receiving the ball. He’s then able to make decisions before receiving the ball.”
A Modern Footballer Built For Build-Up Play
Mofokeng’s decision-making bodes well for modern football, which usually operates on build-up play. That’s why Ouaddou explained how Mofokeng is able to get the best out of himself and his teammates when playing in that role.
“In modern football, when you have this kind of player in your team, you have to use him well,” Ouaddou said. “His capability to scan and be aware of how many teammates and opponents he has around him helps him to make the right decision.
“If you saw how many times we played him in that position - I think three times before the break - he gave us three or four assists. So it’s good to have players who can play in many positions, especially for the coach.”
New SIgnings Make Promising Debuts
Mofokeng’s form is also expected to bring out the best in fellow attacking teammates, including newcomers Andre de Jong and Daniel Msendami.
Signed from Stellenbosch and Marumo Gallants respectively, de Jong and Msendami made their debuts for Pirates in Orlando. Ouaddou was pleased with the duo’s start to life at the club, saying their contributions will be crucial for the team going forward.
“When you bring in new players, I think it was the right moment to show them to our fans as well,” Ouaddou said.
“They did well because it’s not easy to arrive at a new team and integrate. The time I gave them, they used it well, and that gives us a lot of hope for the future.”
Pirates Shift Focus To AmaZulu Clash
Mofokeng, de Jong and Msendami will need to continue performing at their best when Pirates play their catch-up match against AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday night (7.30pm kick-off), as a win would take them to the top of the standings halfway through the season.
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