Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs has revealed what he told Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy regarding Relebohile Mofokeng’s performance on Sunday.
Mofokeng was the match winner for Pirates as they beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 on Sunday to revive their title hopes, scoring twice inside the first five minutes.
His first goal was from a counter attacking situation when Evidence Makgopa found him in the box and he finished well past Ronwen Williams while the second was something of beauty, the 20-year-old scoring from the edge of the box with a well-taken low shot that hit the post before rolling into the net.
Josephs, now working in Kenya as one McCarthy’s coaching staff, says he was watching the game with South Africa’s all-time top scorer and told him how he felt Mofokeng’s finishing reminded him just what he [McCarthy] used to do.
Josephs sees similarities in Rele & Benni’s finishing
“I was telling coach [Benni] that [Mofokeng’s second goal] was like you guys finishes in your era and when the dip comes in the form, the wait is not that long,” Josephs said on SoccerBeat.
“He just goes there and then pushes it higher and this shows you that this boy is intelligent. His football intelligence, emotional intelligence, his emotional maturity for a person his age, knowing that you can easily go into a slump hearing all these negative things.
“He is a youngster he can go into a slump but he shows his strong character to say if I am switched on the day and I am ready, I can be the player who everybody sees me to be.”
Mofokeng has maintained his great form for Pirates this season with 10 goals and 12 assists in all competitions and he has a knack for scoring in the big games.
Pirates legend in Kenya but with an eye on the PSL
Josephs will hope to see more of those as his former team looks to end their long wait for their title that they last won in 2012.
The ex-Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and McCarthy were part of the Pirates team that won that last title and even as they work in Kenya, they will have an eye on what is going on in the PSL.
Josephs serves as the goalkeeper trainer under McCarthy’s all-South African coaching staff that also has assistant coach Vasili Manousakis and performance analyst Pilela Maposa.
