Bafana Bafana sensation Relebohile Mofokeng has been warned the 2024/25 season will be tougher than the previous one.
Last season, the 19-year-old played 38 games for the Sea Robbers who finished second in the Premier Soccer League as well as successfully defending the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup.
His exploits attracted potential suitors from abroad, but none materialized and the teenager is set for another campaign with the Soweto giants.
Opposition players know Mofokeng better
According to former Bafana Bafana international Thandani Ntshumayelo, Mofokeng's style of play has already been known which will make it harder for him to shine.
“I was talking about Mofokeng the other day and saying this is going to be his toughest season,” he told Times Live.
“This is because opposition players know him better now and I was told this by coach Gavin Hunt when I went to my second season with SuperSport United.
I experienced it and I know it is going to be difficult for him, but if you can go through your second and third seasons you mature as a player and can produce something special.”
Tito challenged to maintain consistency, Pirates tipped to challenge Downs
“[Patrick Maswanganyi] is a good player, and I like him, but I don’t judge a player early,” Thandani said about the creative midfielder who scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in 40 games last season.
“I have always been like that, even when I was playing, and that is the reason I respect players who do it season after season.”
The Sea Robbers have been doing well domestically and the 34-year-old is confident they might challenge Mamelodi Sundowns who ‘have been professional.'
“The way Sundowns are dominating, it is not about money but professionalism. I don't know about other teams, but I can see from a distance how Sundowns' management treats their players and how the players treat themselves,” he added.
“A team such as Pirates has a squad to challenge Sundowns and you can’t be happy to win the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup. I respect teams that win the league because I have won league titles and I know how difficult it is.”
