Orlando Pirates Hand Relebohile Mofokeng’s Famous No. 38 Jersey To Rising Teen Star
Relebohile Mofokeng’s iconic Orlando Pirates No. 38 jersey has been handed over to a new generation after the club assigned the shirt to teenage prospect Mpho Padime ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The number became closely associated with Mofokeng during his rise at the Buccaneers, with the young attacker turning the unusual shirt number into one of the most recognisable jerseys in South African football.
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Mofokeng Leaves Behind A Legacy
Mofokeng made the No. 38 shirt his own after breaking into Pirates’ first team during the 2022/23 campaign.
While many attacking players traditionally prefer famous numbers such as 7, 10 or 11, Mofokeng’s performances helped transform the number into a symbol of his success.
The 21-year-old enjoyed a remarkable final season with Pirates before moving to Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
His outstanding performances earned him three major accolades at the PSL awards ceremony, where he was named Footballer of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season.
Mofokeng also played a key role in helping Pirates end a 14-year wait for a league title.
Teenage Talent Takes Over No. 38
With Mofokeng moving abroad, Pirates have now entrusted the famous shirt to Padime, an 18-year-old midfielder who has been promoted from the club’s development structures.
The teenager previously featured for Pirates’ MultiChoice Diski Challenge side before earning a place in the senior team.
Padime has already attracted attention for his creativity and attacking ability, having gained popularity after impressive displays at a kasi football tournament before being recruited into Pirates’ academy.
New Era For A Special Jersey
Although Mofokeng will continue wearing the No. 38 at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, the shirt’s story at Pirates will now continue through Padime.
The youngster will hope to follow in the footsteps of Mofokeng, who turned an uncommon jersey number into a memorable part of Orlando Pirates’ history.
The post Young Buccaneer Takes Over Relebohile Mofokeng’s Legendary No. 38 Jersey At Orlando Pirates appeared first on iHarare News.
