Kaizer Chiefs Legend Itumeleng Khune Praises Relebohile Mofokeng After Bafana Bafana Heroics

Relebohile Mofokeng produced a standout performance for Bafana Bafana in their 5-0 victory over Eritrea, earning high praise from Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune. The young attacker scored twice in Cairo as South Africa made a perfect start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. His display combined sharp movement, composure in front of goal and technical quality in the final third. Mofokeng also demonstrated an ability to use his left foot effectively, something that particularly caught Khune’s attention. The performance has further increased expectations around the Royale Union Saint-Gilloise attacker as he continues to establish himself at international level.

Mofokeng’s two goals played a major role in South Africa’s convincing victory over Eritrea. After Bafana Bafana absorbed some early pressure, the team gradually took control of the match and began creating more dangerous opportunities. Mofokeng opened the scoring in the 19th minute before finding the net again in added time at the end of the first half. His second goal gave South Africa a 2-0 lead at the break and provided a strong foundation for the second-half performance. Yaya Sithole, Iqraam Rayners and Luther Singh then added further goals as Bafana Bafana completed a 5-0 victory.

Khune was particularly impressed by Mofokeng’s ability to finish with his left foot. The former Bafana Bafana captain pointed out that Mofokeng has traditionally been regarded as stronger on his right side. Seeing the youngster connect cleanly with his left foot therefore stood out to the experienced goalkeeper. Khune described the strike as a beautiful finish and said Mofokeng had surprised everyone with the quality of his execution. The observation highlights one of the most important aspects of Mofokeng’s development, as greater comfort with both feet can give an attacking player more options in decisive areas.

The performance was not only about Mofokeng’s finishing. Khune also highlighted the attacker’s movement and his understanding with his teammates in the final third. One of the moments he praised involved a well-timed run from Mofokeng and an accurate pass from Oswin Appollis. Mofokeng then completed the move with a composed finish, demonstrating the importance of movement, timing and execution. The sequence showed how Bafana Bafana’s attacking players were able to combine effectively against Eritrea.

Mofokeng’s development has attracted increased attention since his move from the South African domestic game to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium. Playing in European football provides the youngster with a different competitive environment and exposes him to new tactical demands. His performances for Bafana Bafana suggest that he is adapting positively to the challenges of international football. The Eritrea match provided another opportunity for him to demonstrate his technical ability on a bigger stage. His progress will now be closely followed as he continues his club career in Belgium and develops his role with the national team.

Khune’s comments carry particular weight because of his own experience with Bafana Bafana and South African football. He spent many years representing the national team and understands the demands placed on young players entering international football. His praise focused on specific elements of Mofokeng’s performance rather than simply celebrating the scoreline. By pointing to the first touch, the run, the pass and the finish, Khune identified the technical details that contributed to the successful attacking move. Those details provide a clearer picture of why Mofokeng’s performance attracted such attention.

South Africa’s broader performance against Eritrea also created a positive backdrop for Mofokeng’s individual display. Bafana Bafana secured their second consecutive victory in the opening stages of their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign. The team had already defeated Guinea before travelling to Cairo for the Eritrea encounter. The six points from the opening two qualifiers gave South Africa a strong start to their campaign. Mofokeng’s contribution has therefore come at a useful time for the national team as it builds momentum in Group D.

The victory also demonstrated that Bafana Bafana can receive contributions from several areas of the team. Mofokeng supplied two goals, while Sithole, Rayners and Singh also scored during the 5-0 triumph. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams played an important role as well, making several saves to prevent Eritrea from turning its opportunities into goals. The result was therefore a collective performance rather than an individual effort. Mofokeng nevertheless emerged as one of the most prominent figures because of his two goals and the quality of his attacking play.

The young forward now faces the challenge of maintaining his progress over a longer period. A strong international performance can increase attention and expectations, but continued development depends on consistent performances for both club and country. Mofokeng will have opportunities to gain further experience with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise while competing for a regular place in the Bafana Bafana setup. His ability to continue improving his finishing, movement and decision-making will be important as opponents become more familiar with his game. The technical qualities identified by Khune provide useful indicators of the areas in which Mofokeng has already made progress.

For South Africa, the emergence of another young attacking player adds depth to the national team’s options. Mofokeng has shown that he can contribute directly to the scoreline while also participating in combination play with other forwards. His link-up with players such as Appollis against Eritrea offered a glimpse of the attacking possibilities available to Bafana Bafana. The national team will continue its AFCON qualifying campaign in November, giving Mofokeng another opportunity to build on his Cairo performance. Before then, the friendly against Egypt on October 4 will provide another international fixture in which the squad can continue developing.

Mofokeng’s performance against Eritrea has given him another important moment in his young international career. Two goals, intelligent movement and a confident left-footed finish helped him stand out during a comprehensive Bafana Bafana victory. Khune’s reaction shows how the youngster’s technical development is attracting attention from experienced figures in South African football. His move to European football has also placed him in an environment where he can continue developing his game. If he maintains his progress, Mofokeng will have further opportunities to establish himself as an important part of South Africa’s next generation of international players.