Lebohang Mokoena, a former Orlando Pirates player, claims that his attempted transfer to Portuguese powerhouse Benfica was denied.
Lebohang Mokoena, a former star of the Orlando Pirates, disclosed that Benfica, a Portuguese powerhouse, expressed interest in hiring him.
Before completing a significant transfer to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2009, the former Bafana Bafana forward played for the Buccaneers for six years. He played barely 80 games at Downs due to injuries, despite winning multiple trophies at Chloorkop.
In 2018, the former Pirates player made over 100 games with the Dube Birds before revitalizing his career at Moroka Swallows. Perhaps his best football since leaving the Buccaneers in the late 2000s was played at Swallows.
The man going by Cheeseboy disclosed to Soccer Beat that Benfica had previously expressed interest in hiring him.
“I believe it was during the 2005 Gold Cup while representing Bafana Bafana. On the SoccerBeat Podcast, Mokoena stated, “We were actually playing against Mexico and we won the match 2-1. I had a good game that day and I was named man of the match in that game.”
Following the game, a representative from Benfica, a Portuguese team, approached me and expressed their interest in me. I will need to stay behind after the tournament while we handle all of the discussions.
He added, “We would be thrilled to have you on our team because you are a very young athlete. Thus, they informed the late Ntate Screamer Tshabalala (may his soul rest in peace) that the number nine jersey would not be returning. “We are bringing him along,” the former Pirates player continued.
After returning to the hotel, I informed my roommate Gift Leremi that I had a chance to live out my goal of relocating abroad if I performed well in the upcoming game.
“After a short while, Bra Screamer came to my door and informed me that the chairman in South Africa had given me an urgent call, requiring me to return the next day to participate in the Vodacom Challenge,” the quick-witted winger continued.
Between 2003 and 2007, Mokoena was a standout at Pirates, where he forged a strong alliance with Joseph Makhanya and Gift Leremi. The winger says he was devastated to hear he wouldn’t be able to sign with Benfica.
“I was so upset that I cried on my trip, not wanting to go, and wondering why I was returning for a Vodacom Challenge when there were so many opportunities here. I suppose the pirates did not want to lose me at the time, but I also missed out on a chance. However, I’ve now buried it because it’s a fact of life,” he remarked.
