Relebohile Mofokeng scores first goal in Belgium to cap big week for Bafana Bafana star

[p]The 21-year-old netted his first goal for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/royale-union-sg/407h8Ird/"]Royale Union St Gilloise[/a] on Saturday as they swept aside [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/westerlo/hYaM5Gqp/"]Westerlo[/a] with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/royale-union-sg-407h8Ird/westerlo-hYaM5Gqp/?mid=ELfSbAm2"]5-1[/a] victory in their Jupiler League opener.[/p][p]He did not start but came off the bench on the hour mark and four minutes later had his goal, the third for his side.[/p][p]It was a little dabbed pass that Mofokeng ran onto and steered home from close range, using his pace to good effect. He showed typical composure when faced with goal and, rather than trying to blast the ball, instead placed it into the bottom corner with good technique.[/p][embed guid="440b2c12-922f-4c98-9b95-6cfe45b8744a" url="https://x.com/sahil_e_/status/2086191670744474035?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Following on from his winning penalty in the shoot-out to lift the Belgian Super Cup the weekend before, Mofokeng has made a positive impact at his new club, though he was an unused substitute in the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bodo-glimt-S0WZMUNG/royale-union-sg-407h8Ird/?mid=b3L3pSr1"]3-3[/a] UEFA Champions League draw in midweek with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bodo-glimt/S0WZMUNG/"]Bodo/Glimt[/a] of Norway.[/p][p]As an attacking player in a team, all you can do is have a positive impact on the game, and he has provided that in the two matches in which he has been on the pitch.[/p][p]At the end of the game, as the Union players went to celebrate with their fans in the stands, Mofokeng was thrust to the front by teammates and given the opportunity to receive a personal reception, with a South African flag held aloft by supporters.[/p][embed guid="c467db38-6b81-4f3c-84f1-b81ca827badb" url="https://x.com/UnionStGilloise/status/2086209356501049589?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]As usual, South African fans showed their support on social media.[/p][p]Union announce each goal with a graphic of the player who scored it. The posts for their other four goals received a maximum of seven comments. On Mofokeng’s graphic, by Sunday morning there were 345.[/p][p]Perhaps it is the online support he gets that has helped him settle. Perhaps it is just his personality and the environment he is in, which appears to be nurturing.[/p][p]But for a player who is set to become a key figure for Bafana Bafana in the next decade, it is heartening. Long may it last.[/p]