The departure of Rele Mokokeng may help strengthen the Orlando Pirates squad

With the departure of Relebohile Mokokeng, some Orlando Pirates players will have to raise their level of play next season. It cannot be denied that Orlando Pirates are not the best team without Relebohile Mokokeng.

Player's Significance

Players capable of deciding match outcomes through moments of genius are extremely rare. Over the last two seasons, the player representing the South African national team has repeatedly demonstrated why he is considered one of the best young footballers South Africa has produced recently.

His move to Belgian club Royal Union Saint-Gilloise marks an important stage for both the player and South African football, but it presents Pirates with one of the most serious tactical challenges before the start of a new season.

Replacing Mokokeng will be impossible, and losing 20 goal contributions in 36 matches harms even a team of Pirates' caliber. Nevertheless, abandoning dependence on Mokokeng may prove much more valuable.

As the season progressed, Pirates often turned to the 21-year-old player in tense match moments. He became the solution to the team's complex problems, whether it was beating defenders, creating scoring opportunities, or executing an individual moment of brilliance.

Team Strength Versus Individuality

Although the best world teams always rely on elite players, sustained success is usually achieved by teams where responsibility is distributed among all members of the squad, rather than resting on the shoulders of one person. This is the opportunity now opening up for Abdessalam Ouaddou.

The Moroccan footballer plays for a team that won a league title and already has a solid foundation. Pirates did not achieve home triumph solely thanks to Mokokeng; they won through cohesive defensive play, aggressive pressing, transition control, and the constant search for decisive moments from different areas of the field.

Opportunities for Other Players

Evidence Magopa has had perhaps the best season in the club's colors. Patrick Maswanganyi remains one of the most creative midfielders in the league, and Oswin Apollos arrives with expectations and qualities that can add a new dimension to the final third. Tshepang Moremi, in turn, gets another chance to accelerate his development and take on greater responsibility.

Instead of looking for a replacement for Mokokeng, Pirates might gain more benefit by ensuring a small contribution from four or five players. This is often a hallmark of championship-winning teams.

Club Culture and Future

The best teams evolve before it becomes a necessity. They lose important players, promote new leaders, and continue moving forward because their identity transcends any single individual. José Ribeiro laid a significant part of this culture during his time at the club, and Ouaddou now has a chance to strengthen it even further.

The psychological battle can ultimately be as important as the tactical one. Pirates fans will inevitably view Mokokeng's departure as a significant loss, but successful clubs rarely stand still after one player leaves. Instead, they create conditions where another player can emerge and seize the opportunity.

If Pirates genuinely believe they are building an era, not just celebrating one successful season, then Mokokeng's departure should not be seen as the end of a cycle. It should be the beginning of the next.

Because while replacing Relebohile Mokokeng may be impossible, building a stronger collective without him is entirely achievable.

iol.co.zaJuly 7, 14:59

Musical 'Pirates of Penzance' with Full Orchestra to be Staged at Artscape

A new, vibrant, and bold production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Victorian comic opera 'Pirates of Penzance' is preparing for its premiere at Artscape this winter. This ambitious version will run for a strictly limited period from July 4 to July 12, 2026.

Scale and Musical Performance

The G&S presentation promises audiences an exciting burst of theatrical energy, combining a massive cast of over 60 actors and dancers with the rarity of a live full orchestra. In an era when large live ensembles are disappearing from world musical and comic opera theatres, the public will have a rare opportunity to hear Arthur Sullivan's brilliant score in its complete, unadulterated splendor.

Orchestra and Direction

The live accompaniment will be provided by the newly formed Cape Town Sinfonietta—a magnificent orchestra of 26 musicians whose participation guarantees musical perfection alongside the visual spectacle. The production, first presented in 1879, remains one of the most popular and captivating works in the theatrical canon, known for its sharp humour, dynamic narrative, and sea adventures.

Production Details

This new interpretation, directed by Darryl J. Spijkers with meticulous musical direction by Alastair Cockburn, retains its original Victorian atmosphere and charm. Because the performance is entirely in English, filled with humour and significantly shorter than many traditional operas, it is ideally suited for introducing the genre to families, younger audiences, and those attending the opera for the first time.

What Awaits the Audience

Both connoisseurs and newcomers will find much to enjoy in the rich palette of colourful characters, live scenography, and energetic finales. The show features instantly recognizable hits, including the famous patter song from the number 'I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General,' which harmonizes beautifully with majestic romantic duets and witty comic ensembles. This impressive blend of laughter, romance, and musical mastery will be shown only eight times, including three matinee performances. Given the scale of the production and the rare chance to hear a full orchestra in the theatre, booking tickets in advance is strongly recommended, as this promises to be the highlight cultural event of the winter season.

iol.co.zaJuly 2, 08:15

Relobokhile Mofokeng's move to Belgium is seen as a development model for the South African national team

It has unexpectedly become known that a talented South African footballer is on the verge of a permanent transfer to a top Belgian division. The official announcement by Orlando Pirates regarding the deal with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise for Relobokhile Mofokeng marks an important moment not only for this promising 21-year-old forward but also for the future of the Bafana Bafana national team.

The Comfort Zone Problem

There is an opinion that the local Betway Premiership is sufficient for South African talents. Major clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates offer attractive salaries that can compete with mid-tier European leagues. The financial power of these teams has already brought benefits, as Sundowns' continuous success on the continent has created a disciplined foundation for Bafana, which was evident during the tenure of head coach Hugo Broos.

However, if South African football wants to rise to the level of elite continental contenders and global giants, it must break the comfort zone within the country. For Bafana to advance, the country's brightest stars must be taken out of their 'nest' and forced to compete with the best in the world weekly.

The Model of Moving to Belgium

Mofokeng's proposed move to Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise will be very beneficial for him. Bafana's coach, Hugo Broos, has already introduced necessary realism into the discussion, warning that the young winger/playmaker faces a very physically demanding transition. The Belgian Pro League represents a competitive, high-tempo, and physically demanding environment.

The fact that Mofokeng will likely undergo a specialized six-month training and fitness program before fully blossoming is a victory in itself. In the PSL, a technically skilled player like Mofokeng can operate relying solely on instinct and rare moments of individual brilliance. In Europe, however, this natural talent must be combined with physical endurance, as well as tactical and defensive discipline.

Development Versus Domestic Football

Union Saint-Gilloise is not buying a finished product; they are investing in a raw player whom they hope to shape into a first-class asset that can eventually be sold to a larger club from one of the top five European leagues. This is precisely the development environment that domestic football in South Africa simply cannot replicate. When players stay home, they seem like giants because the base of domestic sporting opposition allows them to 'drift along with the current.'

When they move abroad, into international football, the sudden shift to suffocating pressure and the physical strength of top opposition becomes a colossal shock to the system. Mofokeng will experience this reality with high stakes every week in Belgium. He will either adapt or fail.

A Goal for Young Players

This should be the ultimate goal for every young player in the PSL academy. Money, local praise, and fan attention are acceptable rewards, but the true measure of a football career is testing one's limits against the global elite. African nations dominating the world stage, such as Senegal, Morocco, and DR Congo, achieve their success not through their domestic leagues, but because their starting lineups consist of players competing for spots in the Champions League, Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga.

Orlando Pirates deserve great praise for sanctioning this deal and executing it maturely. However, Mofokeng chose the harder path by making a separate trip to Europe instead of returning home with his fellow Bafana teammates. This will require physical adaptation and close attention, but it is also the only path to greatness. It is time for other outstanding South African talents to follow his example to match the best in the world.