The pressure is mounting, but so is the belief. Kaizer Chiefs legend Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane has tossed his weight behind Orlando Pirates sensation Relebohile Mofokeng, backing the 21-year-old prodigy to find his ultimate gear on the world’s grandest footballing stage.
Mofokeng has been an absolute cheat code in domestic football over the past few seasons, tearing up the Betway Premiership with his blistering pace and defense-splitting vision. This season alone, the young winger has been in terrifying form, racking up 11 goals and 9 assists across all competitions.
Yet, despite his domestic dominance, the magic has yet to fully translate to the senior national team setup—a narrative “Yeye” believes is about to change in North America.
The Weight of Expectations: Stepping Up Beyond AFCON
Speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma, the former Amakhosi and Bafana Bafana midfield maestro acknowledged that the eyes of the nation will be firmly glued to the young attacker.
“For Rele, expectations are very high,” Letsholonyane remarked. “He’s done well for his team and I feel that he still has a lot to do, especially in the national team. He’s sort of not the same player [for Bafana yet], but even at the level he is, he has been doing well.”
This will mark Mofokeng’s second major international tournament after featuring in two matches during Bafana’s 2025 AFCON campaign. With South Africa looking to banish the ghosts of their recent Round of 16 AFCON exit, Mofokeng’s spark will be critical if Hugo Broos’ men are to escape a tricky World Cup group.
The Blueprint for Success: Youth Powered by Elite Leadership
While Mofokeng and MLS-based starlet Mbekezeli Mbokazi carry the torch as the youngest guns in the squad, Letsholonyane emphasized that their success will depend heavily on the spine of the team.
For the young brigade to thrive under the bright lights of the Estadio Azteca against Mexico, Bafana’s seasoned generals will need to anchor the ship.
“Leadership of guys like Teboho [Mokoena] and [Khuliso] Mudau will be very important, Ronwen [Williams] too,” Letsholonyane added. “They are experienced more than most of the players. Ime Okon is young and is new in the setup. Mbokazi is still young… it does not change the fact that he is young for that level.”
