Orlando Pirates winger Relebohile Mofokeng will not be part of the Bafana Bafana squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers this week.
The 20-year-old was stretchered off during the Buccaneers‘ Carling Knockout Cup match against Siwelele this past weekend. The Sea Robbers emerged 1-0 victors following a late goal from Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
After the match, Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou said it was too early to tell if Mofokeng will miss Bafana’s upcoming fixtures.
On Monday, the winger was a notable absentee when the squad arrived for camp in Durban. Kaizer Chiefs attacker Mduduzi Shabalala, who was not part of the 23-man squad, was seen training with the team. Although no official statement was released, it looks more likely that Mofokeng was replaced with Shabalala.
What Bafana coach said about Mofokeng
Hugo Broos has been a big fan of the 20-year-old winger. Even though Mofokeng has not had the best season so far, the Bafana coach has still picked him in his 23-man squad to face Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
“With Rele, you can expect it a bit (the dip in form),” Broos said as per Citizen.
“There was interest from around the world. Every team ‘wanted’ Rele, then you had the feeling that people were (also) going around trying to sell him (off). This is not good for a playe in certain moments, they are only thinking about that, and they cannot focus on football.
“But the qualities are still there and I will not drop him like that. He is with us and we will try to give him confidence again, and also talk with him. He must focus on football and forget the rest. It will come,” said the Bafana coach.
With Mofokeng out of the Bafana squad, it opens a door for Shabalala to showcase his quality. South Africa takes on Zimbabwe and Rwanda in the coming days.