Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has revealed the lesson that Orlando Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng must grab from Wydad Casablanca striker Cassius Mailula.
Young talent Mofokeng has attracted significant interest from several international clubs, including FC Barcelona's B team, Rangers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Al Ahly.
Despite this, he has remained with the Buccaneers since his professional debut in the 2022/23 season.
Bafana coach Broos uses Mailula as an example of a player who moved abroad too soon. Broos believes Mailula struggled at Toronto FC in MLS due to the competition from stars like Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, making it an “immature move.”
Regarding Mofokeng, Broos advises a move to Europe, but cautions against jumping directly to the top leagues at this stage of his career.
WHICH LEAGUES MOFOKENG CAN MOVE TO ACCORDING TO BROOS
“He can go to Belgium, he can go to Holland, he can go to France. He can go to Portugal,” the Bafana boss said.
“Not immediately in a big team, but don’t have to go to Italy, for example. You don’t have to go to Germany. This is, this is not [his level yet], maybe in two, three years. But now, I think now, he’s not ready to go in such a competition, even when he got the talent, but that is not enough.
“Mentally, power that is important now, and he will have power when he play more and in a higher competition, but not immediately. Take a second step before you take the first step.
“And this is important for him. You saw my Mailula. I think I said from the first minute, what is he going to do in Toronto? Because I saw immediately, there were two ex international Italian strikers and the striker of the national team of America. What is Mailula going to do there?
“Now he’s in Wydad, he plays, because Rulani is there. And maybe he can do the step now, later again go to Europe.”
