Mofokeng Says League Lead Gives Pirates Confidence
Orlando Pirates midfielder Relebohile Mofokeng expressed confidence and belief in his team’s title ambitions after playing a decisive role in their hard-fought Betway Premiership victory over AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Buccaneers returned to the top of the Betway Premiership standings with 35 points, three points clear of second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, following a performance inspired by the influential youngster.
Mofokeng opened the scoring for Pirates in the first half and remained a constant threat throughout the match as they edged past Usuthu in a tense encounter.
The defining moment arrived again on the stroke of full time when Mofokeng’s right-footed shot from inside the box struck the post and rebounded off AmaZulu goalkeeper Darren Johnson, resulting in an own goal that sealed the victory for Pirates.
His contribution did not go unnoticed, as the 2024/25 Young Player of the Season was awarded the Man of the Match accolade for his outstanding display.
After the game, Mofokeng highlighted the importance of being at the top of the table and what it means for the team’s mindset.
“I think going on top of the league gives us confidence because we want to stay there until the season ends,” Mofokeng said.
The performance continued a remarkable run of form for the Buccaneer’s academy graduate, who also won the Man of the Match award in the Pirates’ previous outing against Magesi on Saturday.
In that match, Mofokeng scored once and provided an assist in a 2-0 victory over the Limpopo side at Orlando Amstel Arena, helping the Buccaneers secure back-to-back league wins.
Reflecting on the AmaZulu match, Mofokeng admitted it was far from easy, particularly in the opening stages.
“The game was tough in the first half because they were playing low block as they wanted to win and the win would send them to first place,” Mofokeng added.
“They came with the mentality that they want to win, but we saw that and managed to get that chance and scored.
“I think it was a really tough game, but we managed to get three points.”
Pirates will now shift focus away from league action as they prepare for a Nedbank Cup round of 32 clash this weekend.
The Buccaneers face Limpopo ABC Motsepe League side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, where they will be aiming to maintain their unbeaten run, while Mofokeng will be hoping to extend his impressive form and growing influence in black and white.
