Not many fans knew the name of Mbekezeli Mbokazi at the start of the 2024-2025 season. Now, even foreign admirers will be looking at the Orlando Pirates defender.
An Orlando Pirates legend in the making?
5 March 2025 might go down as a big day in the history of the club. 19-year-old Mbekezeli Mbokazimade 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 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 the Man of the Match in that thrilling cup tie against Matsatsantsa and repeated the trick by earning the accolade in Pirates’ 2-1 win over Sundowns. It’s a result that could breathe new life into their title challenge.
Does Mbokazi have any weaknesses?
Physically gifted and still growing into his frame, Mbokazi will have no issue outmuscling strikers. Where he might run into issues is across the ground against nippier forwards who run the channels. Pirates’ 19-year-old defensive powerhouse isn’t lightning quick off the mark.
Mbokazi almost signed for Kaizer Chiefs
In 2023, Mbekezeli Mbokazi turned out for his hometown’s SAB outfit Makhasa FC. He then made a last-minute switch to Langalibalele Academy for the 2023 Engen Knockout Challenge.
After featuring in only 15 minutes during a friendly before the tournament, Mbokazi impressed the then-head of Technical and Youth Development for Kaizer Chiefs, Molefi Ntseki. Scout Ace Nkuse felt the same.
“What surprised me is that he only played 15 minutes and I phoned Kaizer Chiefs straight away,” Langalibalele Academy coach Wonder Mngunitold FARPost.
“That was my first time seeing him, I phoned Molefi Ntseki. I said there’s a left centre-back here, he’s out of this world. I told him, ‘I can guarantee you’ll want to sign this boy’. He said to me, ‘Okay, coach, we will see’.
“I phoned Ace Khuse, I told him the same thing so that more people at the club would push for him. I wanted him to join Chiefs. They said they will organise things. I saw that they were delaying.”
Is Mbokazi set to become an Orlando Pirates legend?
Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
