Orlando Pirates head coach Abseslam Ouaddou says teenage captain Mbekezeli Mbokazi is capable of playing for big clubs in Europe if he maintains his current career trajectory.
Mbokazi, 19, produced another outstanding display for Pirates in their 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday afternoon for their first leg MTN8 semi-final, paying alongside new signing Lebone Seema as a central pairing.
It was again affirmed the immense potential of the senior South Africa international defender, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise since being promoted from the DStv Diski Challenge squad last season.
“Mbokazi… let me be very honest, and I have to be careful because when you congratulate someone to quickly, I’m afraid he stops working but I have to say it, because as a coach you have to be cautious of hyping players, but when they are doing well, it’s good for their mentality, for their self-esteem that he did well,” Ouaddou said.
“This guy, if he continues to work, if he continues to be professional, if he takes care of his lifestyle, I think he has great future because what I have seen again today, it’s just unbelievable, it’s the performance for big clubs in Europe and we’re happy to have him in Orlando Pirates, a big club in Africa, he’s fantastic – but he has to keep working.”
The last teen to wear the captains armband for Pirates was Mbulelo Mabizela who won the league at the club before making a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hostpur.
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