Hugo Broos defends Relebohile Mofokeng amid transfer uncertainty

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has thrown his support behind Orlando Pirates winger Relebohile Mofokeng, despite the youngster’s recent struggles.

The 20-year-old has been named in South Africa’s 23-man squad to face Lesotho and Nigeria in the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers. But questions have been raised about his form this season, with no goals or assists recorded so far.

Broos: Dropping him would “kill” Mofokeng

Broos acknowledged Mofokeng’s dip in form but stressed that cutting him from the national team setup was not an option.

“I can’t do what I maybe have to do and say okay, I’ll drop him – that would kill him, and I won’t do that,” Broos said.

The Belgian mentor believes the winger’s struggles are linked to ongoing transfer speculation, with Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Minnesota United, and Al-Ettifaq all reportedly interested.

A player distracted by transfer talks

According to Broos, the uncertainty around Mofokeng’s future has unsettled him.

“It’s a bit too much for him. One day he’s going, the next he’s not, and you see that in his performances. He’s not playing at the same level he did before,” Broos explained.

The coach urged the player to focus and regain consistency, whether he stays at Pirates or secures a move abroad.

Why Broos still trusts him

Mofokeng has been part of Broos’ plans for more than a year and already shown flashes of quality in the national team. Over the past two seasons with Pirates, he delivered 18 goals and 22 assists, proving his potential.

Broos said the best thing for the youngster now is clarity.

“Let’s hope that problem is solved as soon as possible – whether he stays one more year at Pirates or he gets a transfer.”

For now, Mofokeng remains a key figure in Bafana’s preparations, with Broos betting on his long-term development rather than short-term form.

{Source: TheSouthAfrican}

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