South African soccer agent Basia Michaels believes that Mbekezeli Mbokazi may not be featured in the Bafana Bafana squad under coach Hugo Broos.
Michaels, who represents Mbokazi, facilitated the former Orlando Pirates defender’s transfer to Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer (MLS).
The 20-year-old defender had a standout year in 2025, winning two trophies with Orlando Pirates and playing a crucial role in helping Bafana Bafana qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, Mbokazi’s move to the United States has not been well-received by Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who criticised the player’s decision to join MLS, suggesting that his agent did not provide him with useful advice.
In response to Broos’ comments, Michaels expressed uncertainty about whether Mbokazi would continue to be part of the national team in the upcoming months.
“Mbokazi is confident that his playing ability will still keep him in the [Bafana] squad. I alongside many people currently we might not see Mbokazi in the squad, but that’s Hugo’s reality,” she told Mazole Molefe.
Broos give Mbokazi his Bafana debut last year
“My mother says this all the time, ‘she who plays the piper plays the tune’ and Hugo currently can make his decisions the ways he does, doing what he wants to do the way he does, selecting the players he wants to the way he does and there is very little what very of us can do.
“It doesn’t matter how well Mbokazi plays over the next four months, it really doesn’t because he’s made his dislike for the league known, which I think is very sad,” Michaels added.
Mbokazi has been a starter for Bafana in the last six to eight months, and it will likely remain that way in the coming months leading to the World Cup. Only an injury can force “TLB” from making the World Cup squad.
