Relebohile Mofokeng insists that taking control of his own work ethic has been the secret behind his explosive start to life in European football.
Mofokeng has hit the ground running at his new club, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, contributing four goals in eight games across all competitions. He also netted the winning penalty in the 2026 Belgian Super Cup.
Given that he only arrived in Belgium a few weeks before the start of the season following an impressive World Cup campaign with Bafana Bafana and an outstanding season with Orlando Pirates, the 21-year-old was expected to adapt gradually as the campaign progressed.
However, he has proven otherwise. He consolidated his seamless start by opening his European account on debut as Saint-Gilloise beat Viktoria Plzeň 3-0 in their opening UEFA Europa League phase match away on Thursday night, before reflecting on how he has found life in Europe.
“No, it’s not easy. It’s very difficult, but yeah, we keep on going,” Mofokeng said during his post-match television duties. “Every day I push myself in training. I am the one who’s going to make it easier by working hard and pushing myself.”
Mofokeng’s goal against Plzeň showed a true attacker’s instinct. He anticipated the weight of the long pass from the back, got between his markers before latching onto the ball, and created space to rattle the roof of the net.
“We knew from the start that if they play a high line, there are spaces behind them,” Mofokeng reflected on his goal. “I think I knew that there was space behind them, so it was a matter of the pass. It was a great pass from my teammate. So, we used the spaces very well. That’s why we scored the three goals.”
Mofokeng’s form continues at a crucial time for Bafana Bafana as they prepare for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Guinea on Saturday 26 September, and Eritrea on Wednesday 30 September, followed by an international friendly against Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on 4 October.
