What do Rangers target Relebohile Mofokeng and Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal have in common?
Well, plenty, if you’re former South African midfielder Teko Modise.
The hype train is gathering pace around the Bafana Bafana’s latest teenage talent Relebohile Mofokeng and Rangers have found themselves front and centre.
The 19-year-old winger turned midfielder has been turning heads aplenty in the Rainbow Nation with Mofokeng earning his first minutes for South Africa against Zimbabwe this week.
This comes just after the Orlando Pirates star netted a last-minute winner in the Nedbank Cup to cap a stunning breakthrough season.
There’s plenty of conversation surrounding what happens next with the kid and Teko Modise has been urging Relebohile to keep and eye on an emerging talent in Germany this summer.
Mofokeng ‘similar’ to Yamal
Any Rangers fans who tuned into Spain’s 3-0 thrashing of Croatia in their Euro 2024 opener would’ve caught a glimpse at Lamine Yamal.
At just 16-years-old, the Barcelona winger became the youngest male player in the competition’s history when he started – and thoroughly impressed – against the Balkans nation.
It follows what’s been an impressive year at the Nou Camp for the winger, the kid playing a quite remarkable 50 times for Barcelona this season, scoring seven goals and laying on 10 assists.
In South Africa, the breakthrough of Yamine Lamal draws parallels to the rise of Relebohile Mofokeng and ex-Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise has urged his countryman to keep an eye on Euro 2024.
Claiming that both Yamal and Mofokeng boast a similar mentality, Rangers are targeting more young players to come in and make the grade at Ibrox.
“I think Mofokeng should watch Yamal because his maturity is something similar to Mofokeng,” said Modise, as per Sunday World.
“I just hope that all footballers will be watching the Euros to learn something and see what they can improve on, because it would be sad to see Mofokeng not improve his numbers or do better next season.”
Rangers target urged to make transfer
These aren’t the only Teko Modise soundbites we’ve been getting on Relebohile Mofokeng this week either.
Whilst the 66-times capped South African international spent his entire career in his home country, Modise has had a word of advice for the in-demand Relebohile.
Rangers are said to be leading the pack to sign the teenage wonderkid but after a trial with Wolves earlier in the season, there are plenty of eyes on Mofokeng.
South Africa manager Hugo Broos – another who is excited about the talent of the player – has urged caution in the face of all this transfer talk.
Pointing to Cassius Mailula – who is struggling for minutes at Toronto FC after a switch from Mamelodi Sundowns last summer – Broos has suggested Mofokeng holds off on any switch for another season.
But Teko Modise sees things slightly differently and has urged Relebohile to follow in the footsteps of Steven Pienaar, Benni McCarthy and Aaron Mokoena.
“I guess there is always the conversation about ‘no, he’s not ready for Europe’, but at what age are you supposed to be ready for Europe?” Modise told Prime Sports.
“At the end of the day, you’re going to a team where you’ll be coached and you’re getting better. While you’re here in South Africa, you’re still getting coached and getting better.
“I don’t think there’s a right time or a worse time, we have to bear in mind that age matters. The sooner you go, the better. Steven Pienaar left early, how many years did he play in the EPL? Benni [McCarthy] left early and Mbazo [Aaron Mokoena].
“There’s a lot of players that left early and we never said anything about them, but they all became successful at that level.”
Relebohile Mofokeng made 38 appearances for Orlando Pirates last season, scoring five goals and laying on six assists.
