South African star Relebohile Mofokeng scored his first league goal for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on August 8, 2026, coming off the bench to help secure a 5-1 victory against Westerlo in the Belgian Pro League. The win pushes the Brussels-based club to the top of the league standings.
Life in Europe has started with a flourish for Relebohile Mofokeng. Just weeks after making the high-profile switch from the Premier Soccer League champions Orlando Pirates, the 21-year-old attacker has already etched his name into the score sheet for his new Belgian employers.
The performance follows a string of immediate contributions that have quickly endeared him to supporters in Brussels.
Impact Off the Bench Against Westerlo
The fixture at Westerlo saw Union Saint-Gilloise assert dominance in the second half of the match. Mofokeng began the evening among the substitutes, watching from the bench as his side worked to break down their hosts after a level first-half scoreline.
Managerial changes on the hour mark brought the Bafana Bafana international onto the pitch in place of Canadian striker Promise David. The tactical adjustment paid almost immediate dividends.
Operating with notable speed, the Bafana Bafana youngster came off the bench on the hour mark and quickly exploited space behind the defensive line. Running onto a clever dabbed pass, Mofokeng demonstrated excellent composure by steering the ball home from close range in the 64th minute. Rather than attempting to blast the shot past the goalkeeper, he used his technique to place it precisely into the bottom corner, rounding out a comprehensive 5-1 thrashing.
A Busy Fortnight of Trophies and Standings
The league debut goal builds directly upon an eventful preceding week for the former Orlando Pirates standout. Just days earlier, the Brussels-based club were runners-up in the league last season and beat champions Club Brugge in the Super Cup away last weekend with Mofokeng scoring the decisive kicking in the post-match shootout.
That Super Cup victory handed the team an early piece of silverware and established high momentum for the Jupiler League campaign. Following the 5-1 victory over Westerlo, Union moved to the top of the Belgian Pro League standings, while domestic rivals Club Brugge managed only a 3-0 win over KV Kortrijk.
The sudden transition has not been entirely uninterrupted by tactical rotations. Mofokeng was named as an unused substitute during his club’s European engagements, sitting out a Tuesday UEFA Champions League clash against Norway’s Bodo/Glimt. Yet his domestic productivity highlights an attacking option who maximizes every minute of playing time afforded to him.
Growing Fan Support and Digital Reception
Supporters have taken notice of the rapid adaptation. Following the final whistle at Westerlo, 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.
Digital engagement reflects the same enthusiasm. While standard club social media posts announcing goalscorers typically attract modest interaction, on Mofokeng’s graphic, by Sunday morning there were 345 comments, far outpacing team averages and illustrating the avid following tracking his European career.
Shifting Focus to European Qualifiers
Domestic celebrations must remain brief. The squad must immediately redirect its attention toward continental commitments and a crucial mid-week fixture.
Union Saint-Gilloise travel to face Bodo/Glimt for the second leg of their Champions League third preliminary round clash. The tie remains finely balanced after the two sides played to a 3-3 draw in the first leg.
Whether the young forward earns his maiden minutes in European club competition will depend on tactical choices made ahead of the trip to Norway. For now, the early returns suggest Royale Union Saint-Gilloise possess a dangerous new weapon capable of converting bench appearances into immediate impact.
Worth a look
