Exciting young attacker has lit up Royal Union since move from Pirates, scoring and setting up goals

Kenya coach Benni McCarthy says Relebohile Mofokeng has proved fomef Hugo Broos wrong by acclimitising to the Belgian Pro League.

Mofokeng joined Royal Union Saint-Gilloise from Orlando Pirates in July, soon after impressing for Bafana at the 2026 Fifa World Cup. At the time Broos, who retired from coaching after the global showpiece, said Mofokeng would need at least six months to become acclimatised to European conditions and the physical demands of Belgian football.

However, the exciting 21-year-old midfield attacker has an immediate impression, playing matches, scoring and setting up goals and notching the impressive statistic oc creating the most chances in the early stages of the Uefa Europa League (15 in four games).

“The best compliment I can give to the boy is that he proved Hugo Broos wrong,” McCarthy said in an interview with SportyTV.

“Broos was highly critical of him thinking that he was too small and won’t be up to European standards. He’s gone there and proven him wrong with four goals and a couple of assists so early in the best.

“He has proved the biggest critic wrong and that’s what I am proud of the most. It shows he is South African and he is a survivor.

“You can put him in an uncomfortable situation and he comes out on top. He just has to continue working hard and keep on believing in himself.

“Unfortunately, they did not make it for the Champions League but they are in the Europa League. This is a great stepping stone for him.

“He plays for a team that is always in the hunt for the [Belgian] title.”

In 17 matches in all competitions, Mofokeng has scored five goals and produced four assists. He has reportedly attracted attention of bigger European teams like Bayer Leverkusen and SC Freiburg in Germany, LOSC Lille in France and Brighton & Hove Albion in England.