Mofokeng rose to the occasion for Bafana Bafana, gushes coach Broos

 Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has reserved some special praise for Relebohile Mofokeng who grabbed his first start for the national team by the scruff of the neck on Friday night.

Bafana beat Lesotho 2-0 at New Peter Mokaba Stadium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to climb to the top of Group C with 10 points after five games.

While Broos was happy with the result and overall team performance, Mofokeng duly grabbed the spot-light in front of the sold-out crowd in Polokwane.

The 20-year-old crowned off his full start for Bafana in style as he scored the opening goal in the 60th minute before duly walking away with the Player of the Match award after the final whistle.

Mofokeng's performance justified the outcry from the masses who've been calling for Broos to start Mofokeng following his impressive performances at Orlando Pirates.

Broos said it was the right game for him to make his full appearance, having made cameos in the past since his debut in the same qualifiers against Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein last year.

"I can tell you, there's no regular Bafana player - there are 23 players, that's the first part," Broos said in his post match press conference deep in the bowels of Peter Mokaba.

"Secondly, as a coach, you have to see when is the right moment to bring on a player, and I think this game was the right moment for Rele.

"He played a very good game, and this is what you need. When you put a young player in the team, you always have to think he can succeed because when he doesn't (the blame is on you).

"Imagine if Rele played a bad game, then everyone will tell you 'maybe it's too soon, and not good, blah, blah, blah'. So you have to help the player a little bit in that as well."

Broos didn't only help Mofokeng to have an outstanding game, but Jayden Adams, who was also making his first full start for the national team, as well.

Adams also got on the score sheet, scoring the second goal in which Mofokeng had also played a vital role in as well.

The 23-year-old's impressive outing also spoke volumes of why it was important that he and Broos smoke the peace pipe after he was frozen out of the team following acts of misdemeanour. 

Broos, though, insists that the duo mustn't get carried away, thinking that they'll start with every passing game as different opponents require different personnel and tactics.

"I think I did that with Rele, and I did that today with Jayden too, for me, Jayden also played a very good game – but this was also an opponent to do that," Broos said.

"You can’t do that against Nigeria, or maybe for the first time in Benin because those are different games.

“So, from my side, I have to watch and see when is the right moment and then sometimes it doesn't succeed then either.

"But today you see Rele, he had the confidence from my side and he confirmed it, so I’m very happy with that.”

Bafana will face Benin in their next qualifiers at neutral Ivory Coast on Tuesday (6pm), and a win from that match will all but see them get closer to the finals in north America next year.

Sure, Broos might not start with the duo of Mofokeng and Adams, but Bafana supporters will want them to make cameos on the day following their performances in Polokwane.