Orlando Pirates star forward Relebohile Mofokeng faces a challenge common in the PSL with breakout stars, in his second season as a regular. Soccer Laduma highlights stars in recent years who could not live up to expectations after one hot season.
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Thembinkosi Lorch
Lorch won the major awards in the 2018/19 season at Pirates, including the coveted Footballer of the Season accolade, after netting 15 goals and had five assists in 40 games.
However, the following season, 'Nyoso' only lived on reputation as his numbers began to dwindle, both in appearances and in front of goal.
In the 2019/20 campaign, the Bafana Bafana forward could not maintain his form, after scoring only three games and had five assists in 26 matches.
Monnapule Saleng
Saleng also had a memorable breakout 2022/23 campaign at the Soweto giants, after, among other personal awards, he was named Premiership's Players' Player of the Season and MTN8 Last Man Standing award after scoring 15 goals and had an incredible 11 assists in just 30 matches.
There was even a big debate that the former Free State Stars deserved the Footballer of the Season award that was won by Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena.
However, the 26-year-old only scored five goals last season in all tournaments.
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Zakhele Lepasa
Lepasa was reborn at Pirates after he returned on loan from SuperSport United ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The Bafana Bafana striker was on fire in the early stages of the season, as he scored ten goals in the first few months. However, ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, the 27-year-old does not appear to be in the immediate plans of head coach Jose Riveiro.
Justin Shonga
Shonga hit great heights at the Buccaneers in the 2018/19 season, where he scored 12 goals and had an impressive eight assists, as alongside the likes of Lorch, inspired Ezimnyama to a second-place finish in the Premiership standings, as the Soweto giants lost the title by two points to Mamelodi Sundowns.
However, the late Zambian attacker could not score any goals the following season, as injuries limited him to only eight appearances.
