Retired footballer and analyst Phumudzo Manenzhe has given his verdict on how Relebohile Mofokeng fared in an unfamiliar number 10 role in the absence of Patrick Maswanganyi during Orlando Pirates' draw against Al Ahly.
Pirates maintained their undefeated run in the continental competition by holding defending champions Al Ahly to a stalemate at Orlando Stadium last Saturday.
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They had to do it with out talisman and the PSL's reigning Players' Player of the Season Maswanganyi, who, according to head coach Jose Riveiro, was unavailable for selection.
Mofokeng was tasked with the central attacking midfield role often occupied by Maswanganyi.
The 20-year-old has occasionally been deployed in the role for Bafana Bafana in recent months.
Reviewing the match on SuperSport TV's ExtraTime, Manenzhe said he felt the Barcelona B-linked youngster had done enough.
"For someone that is the Players' Player of the Season for last season, someone who has been a heartbeat in that Orlando Pirates team, the creative spark, obviously when he is missing, you would notice it," Manenzhe said.
"But I think it was a different role over the weekend that Rele was playing. I think the youngster has matured so much over recent games.
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"Already a Bafana international, given that role centrally, to create things from being inside, whereas at club level he is used to being on the wing and deal with players in one-on-one situations.
"He had to be mature, find pockets in the pockets, and find spaces between the lines, and I think he did the best he could."