African All-Star of October: Relebohile Mofokeng

After scooping many best young player awards in the PSL last season, Relebohile Mofokeng seems determined to graduate up to winning a few best player awards this season.

When it came to judging the best player in October, Mofokeng’s performances put the matter beyond doubt.

His month started in the best possible way with a match-winning impact off the bench in the MTN8 final against Stellenbosch.

Brought into the game with half an hour to go and the score tied, he came up with the goods in added time with a goal and an assist that led to Pirates lifting the trophy.

His assist came first with a quickly-taken free kick that picked out fellow substitute Tshegofatso Mabasa who put the Buccaneers in the lead for the first time in the game.

While there was controversy around where the free kick was taken, credit must be given to Mofokeng for his opportunism.

Then came the crowning moment with a goal to seal a historic third successive MTN8 title. With Stellenbosch pushing desperately for an equaliser, Pirates countered into space, Mabasa returned the favour by picking out an unmarked Mofokeng who rounded the keeper, cut back to avoid a covering defender and fired the ball into an empty net.

This is the second time the Mofokeng has performed a super-sub role in a final. Last season, it was his injury-time winner against Mamelodi Sundowns that won the Nedbank Cup and sparked joyous scenes for the Pirates faithful.

When you consider that he was still a teenager in both of those finals, it shows that his big match temperament is nothing short of extraordinary.

A disappointing Carling Knockout exit at the hands of Magesi followed the MTN8 triumph, but Pirates soon got back to winning ways with a clinical 2-0 win against SuperSport United the day before Mofokeng’s 20th birthday.

He played from the start and was a constant problem for Matsatsantsa.

In the next game against AmaZulu, Mofokeng performed the role of provider setting up both goals scored by fellow young star Mohau Nkota.

The first assist was a neat little pass to Nkota who ended up thumping it into the top corner from long range. The second came after Mofokeng latched onto a through ball, then squared it to a better-positioned Nkota who side-footed it home for a brace.

Mofokeng kept up his great form in the next game away at TS Galaxy and helped Pirates maintain their 100 per cent start to their league campaign.

One-nil up at Mbombela with 20 minutes to go, he produced one of his most impressive goals for the club after winning the ball back outside the opponent’s penalty area and curled it beautifully into the top corner.

Pirates have certainly closed the gap on Mamelodi Sundowns in the league under Jose Riveiro and you won’t find a better example of their progress than the great development of Relebohile Mofokeng.

With one trophy already won, wins piling up in the Betway Premiership and the goal contributions flowing from Mofokeng, October was a special month for both the club and the player. Both will be determined to kick on and turn it into a special season.