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Following his counsel to Canada-based striker Cassius Mailula, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has now cautioned Orlando Pirates' rising star Relebohile Mofokeng against making a move to Europe at this stage.
Broos, who included Mofokeng in the Bafana team for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe, believes the time is not yet optimal for the 19-year-old's transition.
Despite the youngster's strong links with Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, Broos remains steadfast in his belief that this move would not be in the best interest of the School of Excellence graduate.
"When I said also with Mailula, this is not the right moment [for Mofokeng] to go overseas. He played what? 18 games? Ja, okay, firstly, he doesn't have international experience – nothing," said Broos.
"So what I said with Mailula, I repeat now with Mofokeng: Stay at Pirates, play another [season] here in South Africa, with CAF Champions League games, hopefully, and then he will be a better player."
Before Mailula left Sundowns for MLS outfit Toronto FC, he had tallied an impressive 15 goals and four assists in 34 matches across all competitions, including the CAF Champions League.
Broos was vocal against the move at the time, advising that another year at Sundowns would make Mailula one of the top players at the 2023 African Cup of Nations.
However, the 22-year-old went ahead with his move and has struggled for game time since, and Broos is again warning against Mofokeng's premature move on similar grounds.
"You saw what happened with Mailula, he got to Toronto and there were two former Italian internationals [Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi], so what are you going to do there as a little guy from South Africa," he added.
"He [started] one game, I think, and for the rest he's on the bench. What is he learning there? Because those [Italian] players have to play.
"So I hope the agent of Mofokeng is smarter than the one of Mailula, and that he only decides what is important for the player, and not what's important for him. Let's see what happens, but I really hope he stays at Pirates for another season."
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