Relebohile Mofokeng is reportedly a major transfer target for Rangers this summer.
The South African teenager has been making quite the impression with Orlando Pirates this season.
Earning his first call-up to the South Africa national team as a result, Relebohile Mofokeng capped a breakthrough campaign with a cup-winning last-minute goal over the weekend.
That injury-time strike has naturally accelerated the hype machine and with Rangers said to be leading the hunt, Mofokeng is making plenty of headlines in his homeland.
But for Bafana Bafana manager Hugo Broos, a move to Europe could all be coming a little too soon for the 19-year-old.
And he believes a recent case from the Rainbow Nation proves it.
Mofokeng warned against Rangers switch
Speaking after calling Relebohile Mofokeng up to the South Africa squad, Hugo Broos has looked to keep the kid’s feet on the ground.
Not helped by comparisons to the likes of Andres Iniesta and the intensity of coverage in South Africa, Broos has urged a level of calm when it comes to the midfielder.
Moreover, the South Africa manager has warned Mofokeng against an early switch to Europe as the nation gears up for World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria (A) and Zimbabwe (H).
Citing the case of Cassius Mailula – who moved to Toronto FC from Mamelodi Sundowns last summer – Broos is wary that increased competition can stunt the growth of these young talents.
This comes with Mailula struggling to depose the likes of Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne in Canada.
“That’s what I said also with Mailula,” said Broos, as quoted by South African outlet IOL. “This is not the right moment to go overseas.
“He played what? 18 games, he doesn’t have international experience, nothing. What I said about Mailula I repeat it now to Mofokeng; Stay at Pirates.
“Play another season here in South Africa with the Champions League maybe hopefully and then he will be a better player. You see what happened with Mailula. He went to Toronto and there were two former Italian internationals, what are you going to do with a little guy from South Africa there?
“He didn’t play many games he is on the bench. What does he learn there? I hope the agent of Mofokeng is more clever than the one of Mailula and he decides what is important for the player not important for him.
“Let’s see what happens and I hope that he stays at Pirates, that he plays another season.”
‘Blessed’ midfielder to talk with Broos
That’s pretty definitive from Belgian coach Broos and we’re not surprised to hear the South African manager look out for the best interests of his players.
The comments are in stark contrast to others in South Africa, who have urged Relebohile Mofokeng to follow in the footsteps of Steven Pienaar to go and make it big in Europe.
Whilst we’re sympathetic to the comments of Broos, the situation with Rangers is certainly different to that of Toronto FC.
Rangers are in the course of rebuilding and whilst there will be substantial adjustment for Mofokeng in Glasgow, there will also be chances to impress.
We also don’t have Lorenzo Insigne in the team.
It is always a risk – but then again so is staying – and amid the plaudits Mofokeng has revealed he will be talking with Broos in the coming days or weeks.
As quoted by Sowetan Live, Mofokeng said: “I will hear what the coach [Hugo Broos] says and we’ll take it from there.”
On his cup final heroics, the kid said: “I feel like a hero. It was a great goal. They (coaches) wanted me to be the game-changer and I did that.”
Mofokeng has also suggested he’ll be careful with who he takes advice from: “The smaller the group, the better you know…because if you are friends with a lot of people it’s easy to attract negativity.”
Club manager Jose Riveiro has also been talking about Relebohile Mofokeng following his Nedbank Cup heroics.
Waxing lyrical about the kid, as quoted by GOAL Spanish coach Riveiro said: “Mofokeng just came at the perfect moment to win us the game, he is a blessed and talented guy, what a goal, unbelievable!”
It’s clear that for now Mofokeng’s future is up in the air but that could be about to change after showdown talks with Hugo Broos on South Africa duties.
If the Belgian coach gets his way, then any proposed summer transfer deal will be off.
