Dad Who Opposed Soccer Now Cheers Son's National Team Rise

Sechaba Mofokeng told his teenage son to forget about soccer and focus on school instead.

The former semiprofessional player knew firsthand how the sport could break hearts, with limited opportunities and broken dreams scattered across South African townships. But his son Relebohile insisted he would make his father proud, and his mother Noame never stopped believing in him.

Today, the 21-year-old Relebohile plays for Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and scores goals for South Africa's national team. His recent brace in a 5-0 victory over Eritrea marked his official first goals for the Bafana Bafana squad during their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign.

Sechaba's perspective shifted as he watched his son's dedication pay off. "His mom was extremely supportive of her son; every match she was there," he told Daily Maverick. "That is why I will always appreciate his mom."

The family's financial struggles never stopped them from showing up at games and cheering loudly from the stands. Even when Sechaba and Noame had their differences, they united in supporting their son's dreams.

Relebohile honed his skills at the Safa School of Excellence, the same institution that produced players like Steven Pienaar. He joined Orlando Pirates as a teenager in 2023 and quickly became a standout player before making his European move.

The Ripple Effect

Sharpeville and the broader Vaal region now celebrate multiple homegrown talents reaching professional soccer. Thapelo Maseko and Tshepang Moremi also represented the area at the 2026 World Cup alongside Relebohile.

"Every season, we have two or three new players debuting in the Premier Soccer League," Sechaba said. Young players across the township now have concrete proof that their dreams can become reality.

The once-skeptical father has become his son's biggest champion. After watching Relebohile compete at the World Cup, Sechaba reminded him how special that achievement was. "How many good players have never played in a World Cup?" he asked his son. "There are a lot."

Now Sechaba pushes Relebohile to aim even higher, encouraging him to qualify for the 2030 tournament. The father who nearly benched his son's soccer ambitions now dreams right alongside him.