A scout familiar with the Botswana football scene has called for
perspective regarding the growing social media hype comparing Orlando
Pirates’ rising star Relebohile Mofokeng to the club’s loanee, Tefo
Mofokeng.
Tefo Mofokeng, who plays for Mochudi Centre Chiefs in the Botswana Premier
League, is on loan from Pirates’ feeder club. His recent run of form—six
goals and four assists in his last 10 matches—has sparked online chatter
that the Buccaneers might have another sensation in the making, similar to
Relebohile Mofokeng’s rapid ascent.
However, an anonymous scout has asked for patience, describing the
comparison as “very unfair.”
“That comparison is very unfair because ‘Rele’ has proven himself in the
DStv Diski Challenge, he dominated DDC, he got promoted. He dominated PSL,
he played continental football with the same Pirates, continental football
with Bafana Bafana,” the scout stated.
The expert highlighted the significant gap in the level of competition,
noting, “(Tefo) Mofokeng is playing in the semi-professional league in
Botswana. You can’t say the league in Botswana is in the standard of the
PSL.”
The scout’s assessment draws a clear line between the two players, pointing
to their age and career progression as key differentiators. “In my scouting
report, I can’t even put them closer. Rele is 21, that Mofokeng is 25 (26
next month, December). Rele has proven himself beyond expectations.”
Questioning Tefo’s long-term prospects with the Soweto giants, the scout
added, “If he was that gem (in contention for a place at Pirates), at the
age of 25, why is he still being loaned out to a league in Botswana? I doubt
Pirates are following him there.”
The scout concluded with a warning that the growing comparisons could be
detrimental to the player himself, saying, “To make the comparison is to
‘kill’ the boy, because now I watch him when he plays, he’s no longer
himself, he’s trying to be (somebody).”
