Pyramids FC head coach Rulani Mokwena has challenged the belief that Relebohile Mofokeng must add significant muscle to succeed in European football, arguing that technical ability, tactical maturity and the capacity to adapt are just as important as physical strength.

Speaking to the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA), the former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns coach questioned the assumption that a player must be physically imposing to cope with the demands of a foreign league.

“I’m not a big believer that you need to be big and strong to be able to be a top football player who can adapt to the physicalities of the league,” Mokwena said.

His comments offer a different perspective from former Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who previously suggested that Mofokeng would need around six months of physical conditioning to adjust to Belgian football.

Mokwena argued that South African football already exposes players to significant physical demands. He referred to data comparing the intensity of the Premier Soccer League with Major League Soccer in the United States, including distances covered, high-speed running and the number of high-intensity actions during matches.

According to Mokwena, those measurements indicate that the physical demands of South African football are within a range that can help prepare players for the transition to other leagues. He said such performance data is increasingly relevant to recruitment decisions made by clubs internationally.

The coach believes this could help explain why South African players attract interest from MLS teams. He also suggested that adapting physically to leagues in Belgium and the Netherlands may not require the dramatic adjustment some people expect, while pointing to Spain’s LaLiga as an example of a competition where technical quality and intelligent movement can be decisive.

Mokwena also praised Mofokeng’s development, saying the winger appears to be benefiting from a club environment that has a plan for his physical progression. He highlighted what he sees as greater maturity in the player’s positioning and patience when operating between the lines.

Those qualities, Mokwena suggested, are important parts of a player’s development and cannot be measured by body size alone.

The debate comes amid continued discussion about what South African footballers need to make the step to European competition. While strength and conditioning can help players cope with different demands, Mokwena’s position is that physical bulk should not automatically be treated as a requirement for success.

His remarks do not eliminate the need for individual conditioning, but they underline the importance of assessing players according to their roles, technical strengths and tactical understanding rather than assuming that size determines their potential.

Source: https://x.com/soccer_laduma/status/2111057151795843269?s=46