World Cup 2026: South African Star Shares Broos’ Message That Inspired His Dream Debut

South Africa striker Relebohile Mofokeng spoke about the encouraging words from head coach Hugo Broos that helped him stay calm before making his FIFA World Cup debut.

The young forward earned his first appearance on football’s biggest stage in Bafana Bafana’s 1‑1 draw against Czechia on Wednesday and credited Broos’ reassurance for helping him settle into the game.

Mofokeng Thanks Broos For Inspiration

“This is my first World Cup, my first game, so the coach just told me to be confident and believe in myself. He told me that he believes in me, so I must believe in myself and help the team as much as I possibly can,” Mofokeng was quoted by CAFonline.

Read Also: World Cup 2026: Broos Delighted With Bafana’s Performance In Czechia Stalemate

“The game was very difficult because obviously this is the biggest stage in football. So the courage from my coach and teammates helped a lot because I think you need confidence and you need to believe in yourself.”

South Korea Next For Bafana

The 21‑year‑old revealed that Broos delivered a simple but reassuring message before introducing him into the match, urging him to stay calm, trust his ability, and play his natural game.

“The coach just said I must play, I must be myself and just do my best,” Mofokeng added.

Mofokeng will be targeting a place in the starting lineup for the first time at the tournament when Bafana Bafana take on South Korea in a must‑win Group A encounter next Thursday.

Adeboye Amosu

Adeboye Amosu; Senior Content Writer. NPFL Expert, Super Eagles, Chelsea.