Rulani Mokwena Reveals How Rele Mofokeng Nearly Joined Mamelodi Sundowns Before Orlando Pirates Move

• Rulani Mokwena disclosed that he contacted Sundowns academy leadership after spotting Mofokeng at a School of Excellence match
• The Pyramids FC coach said Orlando Pirates moved aggressively to secure the teenager's signature ahead of other clubs
• Mokwena spoke about what made Pirates the right environment for Mofokeng's development into a Bafana Bafana star

Pyramids FC coach Rulani Mokwena has revealed that he personally recommended Relebohile Mofokeng to Mamelodi Sundowns after watching the teenager play in an Engen Knockout match, only for Orlando Pirates to win the race for his signature.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA), Mokwena described the moment he first recognised Mofokeng's potential and immediately picked up the phone to alert Sundowns' academy.

How Mokwena First Spotted Mofokeng

"One thing that I have to say, and Shawn Bishop, if you get a chance to speak to him, will tell you, there was an Engen Knockout match between School of Excellence and Orlando Pirates," Mokwena told SAFJA. "Immediately I got onto the phone to Shawn, who was the Head of Youth and Methodology and Coaching with the academy at Sundowns. And I said, 'Shawn, there's a number 10 that you have to sign at School of Excellence.'"

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The Sundowns recruitment drive ultimately fell short, with Pirates identifying the same qualities Mokwena had spotted and moving decisively to get the deal done.

"Orlando Pirates was very, very aggressive with trying to also secure him," Mokwena said.

**Why Pirates Proved the Right Fit**

Despite acknowledging that Mofokeng could have ended up at Sundowns, Mokwena said there was no guarantee the same story would have unfolded had the move gone the other way. He credited Pirates with giving the youngster the single most important resource a developing player needs.

"He could have, he could have been at Sundowns, but then we wouldn't know whether the story would be the same or not. But Orlando Pirates was very important for him because they allowed him to play," he said.

Mokwena went further, pointing to the broader culture at Pirates as a decisive factor in Mofokeng's rapid rise from teenage prospect to Bafana Bafana representative.

"He needed the change room with the capacity of the coaches and the club and the mentorship that Pirates provides. And he's become an incredible ambassador not just for South African football but for Pirates too," Mokwena added. "So I think he's a boy that will achieve a lot of great things."

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Mofokeng has since established himself as one of South African football's most exciting young talents, earning senior international recognition with Bafana Bafana.

Source: Briefly News