“Kaizer Chiefs Can Finally Breathe!” — Mofokeng Drops Savage Parting Shot
Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Relebohile Mofokeng has taken a playful swipe at Kaizer Chiefs, joking that they can finally breathe now that he is leaving South Africa.
Mofokeng was honoured at a farewell dinner hosted in conjunction with the Gauteng provincial government after completing his move to Belgian Pro League side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. The 21-year-old signed a four-year contract following an outstanding spell with the Buccaneers.
The Bafana Bafana international was celebrated before his departure for Belgium, with former Pirates teammate and current South Africa teammate Oswin Appollis among those in attendance.
Addressing the guests, Mofokeng kept his speech brief before ending it with a remark that drew laughter from those present and is likely to spark debate among supporters of South Africa’s biggest clubs.
“I’m going to keep it short,” he said.
“I’ll just say that I’m going to make you proud. I’m going to try my best and give my all, just as I did at Pirates. And I think Kaizer Chiefs will finally breathe.”
While made in a light-hearted manner, the comment reflected Mofokeng’s impressive record in the Soweto Derby during his time at Pirates.
The winger faced Amakhosi seven times across all competitions, winning five matches, drawing one and losing just once.
That lone defeat came in the 2025 Nedbank Cup final, where Chiefs secured a 2-1 victory to end their decade-long wait for major silverware.
Mofokeng also made his mark individually in those encounters, scoring one goal and providing one assist against Pirates’ arch-rivals.
His last appearance against Chiefs came in April this year, when he struggled to impose himself as Siphesihle Ndlovu kept him quiet for much of the contest.
After the match, many supporters criticised Ndlovu, arguing that his approach focused more on physically stopping Mofokeng than allowing a free-flowing football contest. Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou echoed similar sentiments in his post-match comments.
Mofokeng’s move to Belgium continues the trend of talented young players developed under former Pirates coach Jose Riveiro earning transfers to clubs abroad.
Mohau Nkota became the first player to do so after securing a move to the Saudi Pro League at the beginning of the season, where he now competes against Cristiano Ronaldo.
Earlier this year, defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi also completed a move to Major League Soccer in the United States, where he now plays against Lionel Messi.
