Only a few weeks ago we’d be surprised if Relebohile Mofokeng was a name familiar to many Rangers fans.
The teenage Orlando Pirates midfielder has plied his entire career to date in South Africa and, but for a brief trial with Premier League Wolves, wouldn’t have been on the transfer radars of many supporters.
But as Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen scour the globe for young, hungry talents who can take Rangers forward into a new era, Relebohile Mofokeng is suddenly the subject of group chats and pub conversations the length and breadth of the country.
Now, with Rangers said to be closing in on the transfer of the 19-year-old, two former South African players have been urging the kid to follow in the footsteps of Steven Pienaar and seize the opportunity.
Mofokeng ‘must go’ amid Rangers links
Speaking amid those Rangers links to Relebohile Mofokeng, you’d maybe suspect that former Orlando Pirates midfielder Solomon Mathe would be hoping the talent sticks around at his former club.
But putting the career aspirations of Mofokeng at the forefront of his mind, Mathe believes that the midfielder should take his chances over in Europe.
In doing so, Mathe hopes that the talented youngster can follow in the footsteps of Steven Pienaar, the legendary South African winger leaving for Ajax in similar circumstances back in 2001.
The former Dortmund, Everton and Spurs winger went on to make 61 appearances for South Africa and even captained the Bafana Bafana.
“I think he has done well this season, and if an opportunity from overseas arises, he needs to go,” Mathe told Soccer Laduma.
“Remember when Steven Pienaar left for Ajax Amsterdam, he was still young and became a household name. Aaron Mokoena did the same. So, he must go now and grow as a player. He will succeed because he is a clever player.”
Bafana talent fits Rangers transfer profile
It’s not the first time we’ve heard Relebohile’s name mentioned alongside a major football talent.
Whilst Steven Pienaar is perhaps a more appropriate contrast, midfielder-turned-winger Mofokeng earned quite remarkable comparisons to Andres Iniesta earlier in the season.
It’s good to see the 19-year-old is so highly-rated in South Africa and that Rangers are leading the pack to sign the player.
But maybe we can temper expectations in the early stages of the teenage midfielder’s Rangers career.
Whilst everyone hopes that Relebohile Mofokeng will succeed at Rangers, if he makes the move to Scotland that is, we’ve got carried away by such headlines before.
It’s refreshing to see this sort of transfer link and let’s hope Mofokeng can go on to have the sort of career his contemporaries in South Africa clearly believe him capable.
All that being said, if Rangers really are signing the second coming of Steven Pienaar, we’ll be more than happy.
