Relebohile Mofokeng Rejected R15,000 Sundowns Offer to Join Orlando Pirates for R6,000

Sechaba Mofokeng has revealed how his son, Relebohile Mofokeng, turned down a more lucrative offer from Mamelodi Sundowns to join Orlando Pirates, believing the Soweto giants offered him a better pathway to senior football.

Relebohile has since developed into one of South Africa’s most exciting football talents, establishing himself at Pirates before earning recognition with Bafana Bafana and securing a move to Belgian side Royal Union Saint-Gilloise.

Speaking on Giants, Sechaba explained that Sundowns, under club president Patrice Motsepe, offered his son R15,000 per month to join their Under-19 team. The plan was for the youngster to prove himself before potentially earning promotion to the club’s reserve side in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC).

However, Orlando Pirates presented a different opportunity. According to Sechaba, representatives of the club, led by chairman Irvin Khoza’s interest in securing the youngster, arrived at their home with an offer of R6,000 per month for Relebohile to play in the DDC.

The difference between the two offers was R9,000 monthly, making Sundowns the more financially attractive option.

Sechaba revealed that he allowed his son to make the final decision after explaining the financial implications of choosing either club.

Despite the salary difference, Relebohile remained determined to join Pirates. His father said the young footballer believed the club had a stronger pathway from its development structures into the senior team, pointing to players who had successfully made that transition.

That decision proved significant as Relebohile progressed through Pirates’ development system and eventually became an influential member of the first team.

His journey highlights how prioritising development opportunities over immediate financial rewards can shape a young footballer's career, with the move to Pirates helping pave the way for his rise to international recognition and European football.

Source

https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/local-news/why-mofokeng-rejected-sundowns-for-pirates/