For all the structure talk and midfield adjustments, what Bafana lacked in the first half was a player who turns under pressure and drives the game forward. Possession felt safe, slow, and predictable, with little presence between the lines.
Then Mofokeng arrives, and Bafana suddenly look a different team.
He receives on the half turn, plays forward instantly, and carries South Africa into space before the block can reset. That single action reshapes the game. Step in, and he beats you. Drop off, and he advances into dangerous territory. Either way, defensive decisions are forced on every touch.
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What stands out is the speed of his thinking. One touch to set, one to escape pressure, and the pitch opens up. Defenders turn toward their own goal, runners start moving earlier, and structure begins to fracture.
He does more than move play forward, he accelerates the entire tempo of the game. At international level, those shifts in pace and intensity often decide matches.
In this system, he becomes the connector South Africa have been searching for, linking midfield authority to attacking threat with immediate intent.
If Bafana beat South Korea, expect Mofokeng to be at the heart of it.
Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images
