“Did Broos Not Believe In Him?” Mosimane Urges Bafana To Embrace Mofokeng
Pitso Mosimane has questioned why Relebohile Mofokeng was not given more opportunities by Hugo Broos, insisting that the young attacker has shown enough to earn a bigger role in the Bafana Bafana setup.
Mofokeng made his Bafana debut in June 2024 against Zimbabwe in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, coming on in the final minutes. However, his opportunities remained limited under Broos.
The Orlando Pirates academy product also travelled to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco but started only once, in the round-of-16 defeat to Cameroon. During the recently concluded 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Mofokeng again struggled for regular game time, with his involvement coming after growing calls from South African supporters for him to be given an opportunity.
Mosimane questioned whether Broos did not believe enough in Mofokeng, pointing to the youngster’s performances and his ability to operate in different positions and formations.
“I don’t know if the coach, Hugo Broos, did not believe in him or not. I have to go with what is right. I saw the boy playing very well his last two games in the World Cup,” he said.
“He did well: three goals, played in a different role in a 3-4-3—I don’t know—and he’s used as a 10 on the right in the 3-4-3 formation, which he has developed in, adjusting to that formation and scoring goals.
“Remember at the Orlando Stadium we used to see him playing as a winger. Suddenly he’s a 10 next to the striker in a 4-2-3-1 position. So the boy shows us he can play in different formations, right?
“And wherever he’s been playing, he’s been scoring and assisting, right? So yeah, it’s good. Let’s keep going with him. He’s young, 2030. We need to build on that platform and give them a chance. They’re scoring in Europe in high leagues. So yeah.”
Mofokeng has also continued to provide evidence of his attacking ability in Europe. On Thursday, he scored his first UEFA Europa League goal as Royale Union Saint-Gilloise defeated Viktoria Plzeň 3-0 in the Czech Republic. The South African opened the scoring in the 17th minute in his first Europa League start for the Belgian club.
Mosimane has also opened the door for another player who had been overlooked by Broos, with Luther Singh returning to the Bafana setup.
Singh has not represented South Africa since 2021, but Mosimane believes his performances in Europe deserve another opportunity. The coach also sees Singh’s inclusion as a way of creating competition for places in the attack.
“I think if you’re following, I think you’ve seen how Luther, seen how powerful, how strong he is,” he added.
“He is coming to give some people the run also, right? So we want players who score, we want players who assist, we want players with hunger, and I think it’s happening.
“So let me give him a chance, and, you know, we have top players playing in the World Cup, that is, called in the World Cup, what is he? Thapelo Maseko, right? Score, very good.
“But also you must see Luther’s thing, right? On the left and on the right. We have Appollis top scoring, helping us; see Luther playing on the left, Puso Dithejane on the left.
“So let’s open the competition and let the game speak. Not what I say, not what you say. The game talks.”
Bafana will host Guinea on 26 September before travelling to Egypt for their clash against Eritrea four days later. They will then remain in Egypt for a friendly against the Pharaohs on 4 October, giving Mosimane three matches to assess his squad as he begins his second spell in charge of South Africa.
