The new number 10: Broos abandons wing experiment for Mofokeng

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has made a definitive tactical call regarding the future of Relebohile Mofokeng, confirming that the Orlando Pirates starlet will no longer be used as a winger in the national setup.

As the Belgian tactician fine-tunes his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he appears to have found the solution to his “playmaker problem” by following the lead of Buccaneers coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

Broos intends to deploy Mofokeng as a central number 10—a role vacated by the injured veteran Themba Zwane.

𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗳𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗴: “𝗛𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿”

Hugo Broos has officially ended the wing experiment for Relebohile Mofokeng. The Pirates star is being groomed as the heir to Themba Zwane’s No. 10 throne ahead of the World Cup!

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— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) March 20, 2026

Broos Solving the Creative Crisis At Bafana

Since Zwane’s long-term injury sustained against Congo Brazzaville in October 2024, Bafana Bafana have struggled to find a creative engine. Experiments involving Patrick Maswanganyi, Sipho Mbule, and even Thalente Mbatha in advanced roles have failed to produce the consistency Broos demands.

However, Mofokeng’s recent success in a central role at club level has convinced the Bafana mentor to make the switch permanent.

“He is not a winger, Rele is not a winger,” Broos stated emphatically. “For me, he will not play on the wings anymore because I don’t think he has the qualities to be a good winger. I think he has the qualities to be a good number 10. With his intelligence, he can help the team a lot.”

Chasing the ‘Mshishi’ Standard

The move is a massive show of faith in the youngster. While Broos was famously a sceptic of Themba Zwane during his early days in South Africa, he has become the Sundowns captain’s biggest admirer, citing his “intelligence” as the key to Bafana’s success. He now believes Mofokeng is the only player capable of reaching those heights.

“Themba made us play better because of his intelligence. I never had to tell him what to do; he just did it,” Broos explained. “I think Rele can do it as well. I’m sure of it.”

Beyond filling Zwane’s shoes, this shift allows Broos to solve a selection headache. By moving Mofokeng centrally, the coach can finally field a mouth-watering attacking trio of Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, and Tshepang Moremi simultaneously.

With back-to-back friendlies against Panama looming at Moses Mabhida and Cape Town Stadium, the “new” Mofokeng will have his first major audition on the global stage. It is a high-pressure transition, but one Broos insists is necessary for the evolution of the national team.