- Pyramids FC head coach Rulani Mokwena pushed back against claims that Relebohile Mofokeng needs to bulk up for European football
- Mokwena cited recent data showing the PSL's physical metrics closely match MLS standards, backing SA players' readiness abroad
- The coach's remarks directly contradict former Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who had suggested Mofokeng needed months of conditioning
Pyramids FC head coach Rulani Mokwena has firmly rejected the notion that Relebohile Mofokeng must increase his physical size to thrive in European football, arguing that technical ability and positional intelligence matter far more than bulk.
Mokwena made the remarks while speaking to the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA), specifically addressing whether the 21-year-old Union Saint-Gilloise winger is physically equipped for the demands of Belgian football.
PSL Physical Data Backs SA Players
The Cairo-based coach pointed to recently published research comparing physical output across various professional leagues. According to Mokwena, when metrics such as distances covered, high-speed actions, and overall match intensity are measured in the Premier Soccer League, the figures place it in a similar range to Major League Soccer in the United States.
"The clubs now in the MLS are finding that the South African league, its intensity, its physicality, and the profile of the demands actually sets a very good preparation for players to be able to adapt. This document was released quite recently. This is why even leagues use metrics from a physical perspective for recruitment — it's a blueprint used by big teams in Europe," he said.
Mokwena added that this alignment is part of what makes South African players increasingly attractive to MLS clubs. From a physical standpoint, he believes the transition to leagues in Belgium or the Netherlands would not be a significant leap for Mofokeng, and that the data even suggests he could prepare himself for Spain's LaLiga, a league that, in his words, does not require players to be "a big, strong, bulky giant to dominate that space."
Mokwena Contradicts Broos
The Soweto-born tactician's position stands in direct contrast to assessments previously made by former Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who suggested Mofokeng would need roughly six months of physical conditioning before being ready for Belgian football.
Mokwena, 39, expressed confidence in Mofokeng's current trajectory, citing growing maturity in how the winger positions himself and manages his patience in tight spaces during matches.
"I think Rele is in a good club where there does seem to be a plan for him with regards to his progressive development from a physical perspective. But also, when I watch the games, there does seem to be a huge maturity with regards to how he positions himself and how patient he is now in between the lines," he said.
The former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns coach made clear his core belief: "I'm not a big believer that you need to be big and strong to be able to be a top football player who can adapt to the physicalities of the league."
Source: Briefly News