Madiba, Mbokazi and Mokoena walk into a bar. No, jokes, but these three could form the backbone of Orlando Pirates’ bright future.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi is the real deal
Mbekezeli Mbokazi has been one of the standout stories of the 2024-2025 campaign. 5 March 2025 might go down as a big day in the history of the club. 19-year-old Mbokazi made his Orlando Pirates debut, and we might look back on that as a huge watershed moment. It was a 1-0 win for Pirates and, fittingly, Mbokazi marked his bow with a clean sheet. It’s the first of many, and DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] head coach Joseph Makhanya has played a big role in his rise to prominence.
Mbokazi is a big game player already
Mbekezeli Mbokazi started subsequent matches against SuperSport in the Nedbank Cup (he scored the opener in a 2-2 draw, Pirates eventually prevailed on penalties) and against Stellenbosch in a 0-0 draw. Mbokazi was man of the match in that thrilling cup tie against Matsatsantsa, and he started and shone in Pirates’ superb 2-1 win over leaders Sundowns, again earning the Man of the Match award. It’s a result which breathes new life into a title challenge that seemed to be fading out. The Sea Robbers Trail Sundowns by 15 points but have four games in hand. 20-year-old Rele Mofokeng was the scorer of both Pirates goals, the quickest brace by a Buccaneers player in PSL history. We don’t even think of Mofokeng as a youngster or a future star anymore, such is his importance to the first XI already. The future is now.
New contract for a talented teenager
Soccer Laduma is reporting that Pirates are readying a bumper senior contract for the prodigiously gifted central defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
“For now, the deal and the new contract are as good as done. The talks have been going on since he (Mbokazi) was recommended to start training with the (Pirates) first team in August last year before he went with the Under-20 national team to the COSAFA Cup in Mozambique which (his team) South Africa won. Yes, it’s a four-year contract which will run until June 2029,” said the source.
Mokoena spotted at Orlando Pirates
According to Soccer Laduma, winger Neo Mokoena and 19-year-old central defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi are training with the Pirates first team. Jose Riveiro is impressed with the pair.
Madiba adds versatility in defence
Soccer Laduma has it on good authority that versatile 23-year-old Yanga Madiba is on the verge of a breakthrough into the Orlando Pirates’ first team. Comfortable on both flanks, the promising star can operate in midfield or defence.
Orlando Pirates fans, do you feel secure and confident in the club’s future?
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