Relebohile Mofokeng has become one of the most exciting names in South African football, and with that attention comes the inevitable speculation around his future. But according to former Orlando Pirates midfielder Tyren Arendse, the young winger needs to block out the noise and simply focus on his game — and it’s hard to argue with that advice.
Arendse, who knows a thing or two about life in the Buccaneers’ engine room, recently shared his thoughts on the Mofokeng transfer hype that has been building around the teenager. His message was clear and measured: don’t rush it, let the football do the talking.
“At present, Mofokeng should focus on enjoying his football,” Arendse said. “When the timing is right, opportunities will arise.” It’s the kind of grounded wisdom that often gets drowned out when a player starts generating the sort of buzz Mofokeng has been attracting both locally and across the continent.
There’s a very real danger in the modern game where a promising youngster gets talked up so aggressively that the pressure begins to affect his performance. We’ve seen it happen before in South African football — players hyped too early, moved too soon, and ultimately lost in the shuffle of a bigger stage they weren’t quite ready for.
Tyren Arendse Warns Against Rushing Relebohile Mofokeng’s Next Move
Arendse specifically raised a concern that many in the local football community will relate to. “Some players perform well for an entire season and then are advised they are prepared to move, which is not always the case,” he warned. One good season, as encouraging as it may be, doesn’t automatically mean a player is ready to handle a higher-pressure environment — especially at the age Mofokeng is operating at right now.
The former Pirates man believes the real test lies in consistency over time. “He should aim to maintain this level of performance each season,” Arendse noted, pointing to something that separates the genuinely elite from the ones who flare up briefly and then fade. Sustaining top-level form across multiple campaigns is the true benchmark — and it’s harder than it looks.
Arendse went even further, putting a specific target on the table. “The challenge for him is to sustain this form and to complete at least three seasons in the PSL,” he said. That’s a concrete and sensible marker. Three solid seasons in the Premier Soccer League would not only prove Mofokeng’s quality beyond doubt — it would make any eventual move far more informed, more lucrative, and more likely to succeed.
Orlando Pirates have built something genuinely exciting around this young squad, and Mofokeng sits at the heart of that project. Pulling him out of that environment prematurely could disrupt both his individual trajectory and the club’s momentum. The Pirates faithful will certainly be hoping he sticks around long enough to help the team challenge for more silverware.
From where we’re sitting at SA Report, Arendse’s perspective reflects exactly the kind of long-term thinking that South African football desperately needs more of. The temptation to fast-track talented youngsters is understandable, but patience has always been the foundation of lasting careers.
Mofokeng’s talent is not in question — what matters now is that the people around him give him the space, the time, and the structure to develop at a pace that serves his career in the long run. If he can put together three dominant seasons in the PSL, the right opportunity will find him — and he’ll be ready when it does.