Relebohile Mofokeng's rise in South African football has been nothing short of impressive. The young Orlando Pirates star has been making headlines with his consistent performances and has certainly shown his potential as one of the brightest talents in the Betway Premiership.
But while fans and pundits have been praising his progress, Mofokeng's toughest critic has always been his father, former footballer Sechaba Mofokeng.
Late last year, Sechaba spoke to Soccer Laduma, sharing his views on his son's performances, and in a rare moment of fatherly honesty, he made it clear that he expected more.
At the time, Relebohile was enjoying a solid season with Orlando Pirates, but his father was not on the bandwagon. He called out his son for not reaching the lofty standards he had set for him, despite his young age.
"He did badly, not well – he did bad. He played 38 games, I told him that he is an attacking player and that he needs to score more than 11 goals and I would understand. He needs to have more than 15 assists and get at least five Man of the Match awards, then he did well for me. But this season he did zero," Sechaba said in an interview.
But Sechaba wasn't just offering criticism for the sake of it—he had clear expectations, based on the talent he saw in his son.
The expectations were tough, but they weren't unreasonable. In fact, they were a challenge, one that Relebohile seemed determined to accept. Sechaba did offer a promise, though, stating that if his son could score six goals in the season, then he would expect 12 the next time around.
At the time, Relebohile was still adjusting to his first full season in the senior ranks, learning the intricacies of professional football. His father acknowledged this, but still demanded more.
"It was his first full season and there were other things that he didn't understand clearly, and he was still adapting," Sechaba explained.
Fast forward to today, and Relebohile has not only met the challenge, but he's well on his way to surpassing it!
This season, the young attacker has been in sensational form, registering 13 assists and 10 goals across all competitions. With the season still ongoing, he is just one goal away from matching the 11-goal mark his father had set for him, and it's clear that Mofokeng is on track to meet, and possibly exceed, the lofty expectations his father placed on him.
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One of the standout moments of Relebohile's campaign so far came in the CAF Champions League quarter-final against MC Alger.
In a crucial first-leg match played in Algeria, Mofokeng provided an assist for Mohau Nkota, whose goal handed Pirates a 1-0 win. The young star's contribution on the continental stage showcased his growth and ability to deliver in big moments, making his father's demanding expectations seem like a small price to pay for the talent he's showing.
The relationship between father and son has proven to be an essential factor in Relebohile's development.
As much as Sechaba has pushed him to perform, he has also been a sounding board and a source of constant support. It's clear that the love for the game runs deep in the Mofokeng family, and if Relebohile continues on his current trajectory, he's well on his way to becoming a household name, not just in South Africa, but across the continent.
As for Sechaba, while he may have set the bar high, there's no doubt that he's proud of what his son has achieved so far. And with the season Relebohile is having, it's safe to say that the sky's the limit for the Sharpeville-born talent. The challenge was always about meeting and exceeding expectations—and Relebohile Mofokeng is certainly doing that and more.
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