jasdooit

Some athletes are so exceptional, so gifted, so proficient that they only require a single moment to change the result of a game. Even on occasions when they appear not at their best, their mere existence is sufficient to inspire belief that something favorable might occur.

Relebohile Mofokeng is one such athlete. And last night, he demonstrated this with a moment of brilliance that assisted Orlando Pirates in securing a victory that had initially appeared likely to end in a tie.

The praise, naturally, was directed at scorer Evidence Makgopa for the first goal in the 2-0 Betway Premiership win against Chippa United, which placed the Buccaneers tied with Mamelodi Sundowns on 25 points, but they are second due to a worse goal difference. However, Pirates still have a game remaining.

The statisticians would have also carefully recorded Deon Hotto’s assist.

However, traditionalists would have recognized that Pirates’ success was due to Mofokeng’s exceptional ability to find space and his love for precisely timed, defensive-piercing passes.

On a night when he appeared slightly out of form—missing a free kick from a promising spot and then heading the ball high when unmarked inside the box—Mofokeng only needed one moment to remind everyone of his talent.

A seemingly harmless move resulted in him getting the ball just inside the Chilli Boys’ half. With the visitors having defended strongly, it seemed there was little threat.

However, Mofokeng delivered a pass that would have been admired by some of the game’s top playmakers — a ball that split the Chippa defense and reached the charging Hotto on the left side of the penalty area. The Namibian player did exceptionally well to send a powerful cross past the advancing Dumisani Msibi, and substitute Makgopa scored.

Another alternative, Oswin Appollis, scored to make it 2-0 in the 90th minute with a redirected shot within the penalty area, as Pirates increased pressure on the defending champions and league leaders Sundowns — whom they could surpass this weekend if they remain unbeaten against Durban City.

With that outstanding pass, Mofokeng demonstrated that his elite level is here to stay, and he undoubtedly delivered a timely message to Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos that he is still a player deserving of a spot in the final squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, even after his recent decline in performance and limited playing time.