{
  "id": 13019476,
  "title": "Bafana Bafana MVP battle heats up as Mofokeng's market value doubles",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/bafana-bafana-mvp-battle-heats-up-as-mofokengs-market-value-doubles",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-09T03:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/bafana/2026-10-09-bafana-bafana-mvp-battle-heats-up-as-mofokengs-market-value-doubles/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bafana Bafana's Pitso Mosimane has been showered with good news, starting with defender Olwethu Makhanya winning the Scottish Premiership Player of the Month award for September. The South African team's world ranking rose to 48th, matching their highest since October 2011. Bafana secured their position with victories against Guinea and Eritrea, earning 8.87 and 2.55 ranking points respectively. Star player Relebohile Mofokeng's market value surged by a hundred percent, reaching €6 million after joining Belgian Pro League club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on a four-year deal. Mofokeng demonstrated his skill with four goals and one assist in nine games. Currently, three South African teammates - Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Lyle Foster, and Mofokeng - trail behind in MVP status, all set to compete for the title over the next 30 days as the next FIFA window approaches.",
  "summary": "Relebohile Mofokeng's rising profile places him within touching distance of South Africa’s highest-valued players, MLS-based duo Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Lyle Foster. With crucial back-to-back 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Kenya scheduled for the November international window.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}