Relebohile Mofokeng is a footballing genius – Simba Marumo

He says the Bafana Bafana star is a rare breed of players who can do what few of his peers can do with the ball, despite his diminutive body structure. 

Marumo went as far as declaring that Mofokeng, who recently led Orlando Pirates to a first league championship in 14 years, is cut from the same cloth as Argentina’s Lionel Messi.

"The world is not really used to our wizards, they don't know how to mark Mofokeng. A genius does things in a way that other people don't. A genius can be small, and maybe look a little bit weird and different like Lionel Messi. 

"Mofokeng is not a common athlete, he is small and thin but this guy is a genius," declared Marumo. 

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His performances for Pirates not only earned him nominations for the PSL Young Player of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year, and Footballer of the Season, but also a move to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. 

Marumo thinks the 21-year-old will not struggle to make an impact in Europe, and says he just needs a coach who trusts him.

Simba, as Marumo is affectionately known, believes Mofokeng should have received more game time at the World Cup. He says the coach should have had more confidence in the style of play that the Sharpeville-born player brings to the game, and perhaps could have influenced the results more positively for Bafana Bafana.

"We need to start appreciating what we are about and what we can do, and have more confidence in the South African talent. I think we are too hard on ourselves sometimes and then we make mistakes by not taking what is already ours."