Kaizer Chiefs legend Marks Maponyane. Image: Kaizer Chiefs website
Pirates legend praise Broos for not throwing Mofokeng in the deep end unlike Chiefs with their youngsters
Former Chiefs and Pirates striker Marks Maponyane says Releboheng Mofokeng’s confidence comes from playing and winning cup finals.
Kaizer Chiefs legend Marks Maponyane. Image: Kaizer Chiefs website
Former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates striker Marks Maponyane has praised Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos on how he introduced Relebohile Mofokeng to international football.
The 19-year-old made his national team debut against Zimbabwe earlier this month. With Bafana winning 3-1, Mofokeng was introduced in the dying minutes of the game to the cheers of the Bloemfontein crowd. Since making his debut for Pirates at the age of 17, the teenager has been marvellous to watch.
Maponyane, who played for both Chiefs and Pirates, said Broos was spot on to bring in Mofokeng when the team was winning.
“Yes the youngster is talented, but when do you play him? You play him when the team is winning. Don’t kill his confidence and play him when you expect results through him,” he told KickOff.
“Let him enjoy and get into the groove and let him be the star that you have seen in him. Once you expect results from the youngsters, you will end up being in a situation where Chiefs are now.
Ex-Chiefs and Pirates striker happy with Mofokeng
“Some of us were thrown into the deep end at the age of 18, from the bench, in a winning team because that is one point I have to emphasise.
“This kills the confidence of the poor youngsters. Some of us when we came to Chiefs were coming on from the bench when it was 2-0 or 3-0 in a cup final.
“That confidence comes in because it is nerve-wracking, especially in a final. Nobody can tell me that this does not happen unless you have played a lot of cup finals,” said Maponyane.
Unlike Kaizer Chiefs youngster Wandisile Duba, Mofokeng has been influential in big matches for Pirates. He scored a winner during the Buccaneers’ 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup final. Amakhosi‘s Duba made a name for himself when he scored a stunning goal against Golden Arrows earlier in the year. Mofokeng, Duba and Mfundo Vilakazi are some of the teenagers that have come through the ranks of Chiefs and Pirates in the past few years.
