Umdlali osemncane we-Orlando Pirates, uRelebohile Mofokeng, uzishaya isifuba ngokuzifaka enhliziyweni yomqeqeshi uJose Riveiro oqoke ukungambolekisi njengoba kwenzekile kwabanye ontanga yakhe.
Kujwayelekile kweZimnyama ukubolekiswa kwabadlali abasebancane abasuke benyuselwe esikimini esikhulu. Iningi labo ligcina lingabuyanga ukuzodlubha ijezi lesikimu esikhulu esiyibamba kwiDStv Premiership. Kubadlali bePirates abasesikimini sikaRiveiro abaphuma ekubolekisweni kukhona u-Innocent Maela ongukaputeni weZimnyama owabolekiswa kwiThanda Royal Zulu. Kubadlali bePirates abagcwele emaqenjini ePSL kukhona uBoitumelo Radiopane obolekiswe kwiCape Town Spurs no-Azola Tshobeni okwiJDR Stars kwiMotsepe Foundation Championship.
UMofokeng (19) unyuselwe esikimini esikhulu ekuqaleni kwesizini ka-2023/2024 emuva kokwenza ezibukwayo kwiDStv Diski Challenge (DDC) ngesizini edlule eqala ukudlala kuyona. Ufike kwelePremiership waphenduka intandokazi yabalandeli bePirates ngenxa yebhola eliseqophelweni eliphezulu alidlalayo esikimini esikhulu. Ezinyangeni ezedlule, uMofokeng uzame inhlanhla phesheya kwezilwandle kwiWolfs yase-England.
“Ngibona ukuthi sengizibonakalisile. Ngihlala ngisebenza kanzima. Mhlawumbe nomqeqeshi uyabona ukuthi ngiyasebenza. Ngakho ngibona ukuthi yingakho engangibolekisi. Uyabona ukuthi ngiyazinikela, ngimnika u-100% ngaso sonke isikhathi ejimini nakuyona yonke imidlalo,” kusho uMofokeng.
KweZimnyama, uMofokeng ubanga indawo nabadlali abanesipiliyoni okukhona kubona iqhawe lakhe uThembinkosi Lorch.
Kule sizini ka-2023/2024, usedlale imidlalo engu-13 yePremiership, wakhanda amagoli amabili. Ubeseqenjini leZimnyama elivule isizini ngokuphakamisa indebe yeMTN8 emuva kokuthela othulini iMamelodi Sundowns eThekwini.
Kuvalelwe ikhefu le-Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) iPirates isendaweni yesihlanu kwi-log yePremiership ngamaphuzu angu-25 emuva kwemidlalo engu-16. Isele ngawu-10 kwiSundowns esesicongweni ngawu-35 emuva kwemidlalo engu-13.
UMofokeng ukholwa wukuthi basenalo ithuba lokugudluza iSundowns eqhulwini.
“Sisengayiwina iligi. Sisenalo ithuba. Kufanele sikukhombise lokho kuyona yonke imidlalo futhi sigcine umgqigqo,” kusho uMofokeng.
IPirates izobuyela enkundleni ngoFebhuwari 13 uma isiyamukela iChippa United emdlalweni weligi e-Orlando Stadium, eSoweto.