The excitement surrounding Relebohile Mofokeng’s move to Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise continues to grow after his father, Sechaba Mofokeng, revealed that the transfer had already been agreed upon before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking proudly about his son’s next chapter, Sechaba explained that the family deliberately kept the move a secret to allow the young star to focus entirely on representing South Africa on football’s biggest stage.
“We knew Rele Mofokeng was moving to Belgium before the World Cup.
“To be honest, we were so happy that Rele was moving to Europe. We knew before the World Cup, and Rele also knew before he went to the tournament.
“We wanted to share the news with everyone, but we couldn’t because the excitement and attention could have distracted him during the World Cup. We had to keep it a secret from the public.”
The revelation sheds new light on one of South Africa’s biggest transfer stories, confirming that Mofokeng entered the World Cup knowing his future had already been secured.
Despite carrying the weight of such a significant career move, the 21-year-old remained fully focused on Bafana Bafana’s historic campaign, helping the national team reach the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the country’s history.
His performances throughout the tournament further demonstrated why one of Belgium’s top clubs moved quickly to secure his signature.
The transfer to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise marks a major milestone in Mofokeng’s rapidly rising career. After dazzling supporters with his creativity, vision, dribbling ability and maturity beyond his years in the Betway Premiership, the gifted midfielder now has the opportunity to test himself in European football.
For many South Africans, the move represents more than just another overseas transfer. It is another sign that the country’s brightest young talents are earning recognition on the global stage and taking important steps in their development.
While no one is prouder than his father, Sechaba, the excitement extends far beyond the Mofokeng family. Football supporters across South Africa will be eagerly following Relebohile’s journey in Belgium, hoping he continues his remarkable rise and becomes another ambassador for South African football in Europe.
The World Cup may have introduced Relebohile Mofokeng to a global audience, but his move to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise could be the beginning of an even greater chapter in what promises to be a special career.
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