Legendary African tactician Pitso Mosimane has thrown his full weight behind Relebohile Mofokeng’s highly anticipated move to Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise (USG).
The 21-year-old sensation recently finalized his move from Orlando Pirates after an outstanding breakthrough cycle for club and country, including featuring heavily for Bafana Bafana at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Mosimane believes Belgium is the absolute perfect launchpad for Mofokeng’s European ambitions.
Why Belgium is the Perfect Springboard for African Talent
The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly boss highlighted several key reasons why the Belgian Pro League serves as an elite developmental hub for emerging African stars:
- The Percy Tau Blueprint: Mosimane pointed to his former player Percy Tau, who successfully used Belgium (including a stint at Union SG) to skyrocket his profile and earn a Premier League move to Brighton & Hove Albion.
- A Proven Track Record: Belgium has consistently polished world-class talent before exporting them to elite leagues. Mosimane noted, “The Lukakus, Kevin De Bruyne, Tielemans… you have to play in Belgium to do that.”
- Accommodating Bureaucracy: Unlike England’s incredibly strict work permit laws, Belgium offers much friendlier regulatory criteria for African footballers looking to establish themselves on the continent.
“Belgium is friendly to our Africans; the rules are much better. It’s not like in England, where you have to have 70% caps for the last two years… it’s not easy to get those players in.” — Pitso Mosimane
Mofokeng recently returned to South Africa to wrap up final personal logistics after passing his medical examinations. He is expected to jet back to Europe in the coming weeks to integrate into Union SG’s pre-season camp.
