Why Relebohile Mofokeng Chose Orlando Pirates Over Mamelodi Sundowns’ Bigger Salary

• Relebohile Mofokeng faced a choice between two of South African football’s biggest clubs before his professional career took off
• The difference between the monthly offers was substantial, but the young attacker had another priority
• His father, Sechaba Mofokeng, has shared the conversation that shaped his son’s decision

Relebohile Mofokeng chose Orlando Pirates over Mamelodi Sundowns despite being offered a much higher monthly salary by the Tshwane club. His father, Sechaba Mofokeng, explained why the young footballer preferred the Buccaneers and how he chose the move to reach senior football sooner.

In an interview on Giants, published by iDiski Times on 26 October 2026, Sechaba recalled how the two clubs offered his son different opportunities.

Mamelodi Sundowns offered R15,000 per month

According to Sechaba, Sundowns wanted Relebohile to join their Under-19 team, with the possibility of promotion to the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) reserve side if he performed well.

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“Motsepe wanted him to play for the U19s and offered him R15,000 – and if he did well, they would promote him to the reserve team in the DDC,” Sechaba said.

The family had agreed to respond the following Tuesday. However, Orlando Pirates representatives arrived at their gate that morning with an alternative offer.

Orlando Pirates offered a different pathway

Pirates offered Relebohile a place in their DDC team for R6,000 per month, considerably less than Sundowns’ proposed salary. Sechaba explained that he left the decision to his son after laying out the financial difference.

“You choose Yellow, they give us R15,000 per month, you go to Pirates, they give you R6,000 per month,” he recalled telling him.

Relebohile eventually made his preference clear, despite his father attempting to persuade him to consider the higher offer.

Why Relebohile Mofokeng chose Pirates

Sechaba said his son believed Pirates provided a clearer route into the first team.

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“He said a majority of their players are coming from the DDC to make it into the first team,” his father recalled.

That conviction shaped the decision that preceded Relebohile’s rise at Pirates, his Bafana Bafana recognition and his subsequent move to Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

Mofokeng chose Pirates because he believed he had a better chance of breaking into the first team, rather than taking Sundowns’ higher-paying offer.

Relebohile Mofokeng attracts interest from European clubs

Briefly News previously reported that Relebohile Mofokeng’s impressive start at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise has reportedly attracted attention from European clubs, including Lille and Bayer Leverkusen.

The South African winger could face another major career decision as the January 2027 transfer window approaches, with potential bids reportedly reaching €15 million (approximately R276 million).

Source: Briefly News