The rise of Orlando Pirates youngster Relebohile Mofokeng has seen him go ahead of his peers in the game and Papi Zothwane, who saw him before joining Pirates, has revealed what set Mofokeng apart compared with other youngsters at Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.
The debate will always be around, within the supporters of the big teams, on who has the most talented, upcoming youngster, as Chiefs have also given the platform to Mduduzi Shabalala and Mfundo Vilakazi, under new head coach Nasreddine Nabi.
Sundowns youngster Siyabonga Mabena also showed a big potential in the previous seasons, particularly under former head coach Rulani Mokwena while the likes of Kutlwano Letlhaku are also tipped to build a name for themselves in the game.
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However, Mofokeng is currently ahead of the curve, as he has been a regular at the Buccaneers for just over a season and has recently cracked into the Bafana Bafana squad, at 19.
Zothwane, who revealed that he already knew the Sharpeville-born forward would be great when he saw him at 16 years old in an amateur tournament, has also explained what sets him apart compared to his peers.
"This boy I saw at a tournament while still coaching Uthongathi, in Sebokeng, he was still small, he was 16, Mofokeng. I wanted to sign him for Uthongathi while he was still doing matric. Hey, I couldn't get this player you see. Then suddenly, [I see him] in Pirates Cup, Pirates have signed him," Zothwane, currently an assistant coach at Magesi, said on Junior Khanye Khohlwa YouTube Channel.
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"I called coach Mandla [Ncikazi, assistant coach at Pirates] [and said], 'Ah you took my player, at least loan him to me for a season, because I know this boy won't play [at Pirates at the time]. He said, 'Eh Papi, you'd rather take the likes of [Thembinkosi] Lorch [Lorch only started playing regularly in the 2017/18 season], not Mofokeng!' That's how talented the boy is. If a coach can say there are players who know football but this player is too special, we can't give you that boy.
"A young player at his age, with such consistency. You've got the likes of Mduduzi [Shabalala], Vila [Mfundo Vilakazi], [Siyabonga] Mabena but that boy [Mofokeng] mentally he's very strong. He knows situations in the game, he's very intelligent and one thing I like, he's very consistent. Other younger players would have one good game, the next thing you don't see him again but this one [Mofokeng] is a special player," Zothwane added.
After scoring a winning goal in last season's Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns, Mofokeng scored one and assisted another goal in the 3-1 win over Stellenbosch in the MTN8 final two weeks ago.
