Orlando Pirates fans discovered big news on Mbekezeli Mbokazi on Saturday afternoon.
The 20-year-old centre-back, who climbed from debutant to vice-captain in record time, is in the USA for talks with Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire FC.
Reports say the deal will be worth no less than R52 million.
GAVIN LANE REACTS TO MBEKEZELI MBOKAZI’S EXPECTED MOVE TO CHICAGO FIRE
While a few have questioned a move to the United States rather than Europe, the club’s former captain Gavin Lane feels Mbokazi should grab the opportunity.
“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. The MLS is pretty good, lots of sponsors, and the football is good over there. So why not? I think he should give it a try,” Lane told FARPost. “When you look at the bigger picture, from there he can go to the English Premier League like Lucas [Radebe], [Mark] Fish or [Shaun] Bartlett. If you look at Lyle Foster, he is now doing well in England. It’s always nice to go abroad.”
Three months after his first senior match, he was already in the Bafana Bafana setup, so important to Hugo Broos that Orlando Pirates had to block his participation at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup to keep him available for key 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
“Of course, he has been doing great for himself, but getting experience abroad is key. Looking at his age, he needs such experience. I don’t think going to the MLS will affect his chances of going to the World Cup with Bafana Bafana. He is still young, and there is a lot he can achieve with this move,” the Orlando Pirates legend concluded.
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