Orlando Pirates’ young centre back Mbekezeli Mbokazi has been nothing short of an ace at the back, showing a calmness and leadership that you rarely see in a 19-year-old.
Hailing from Hluhluwe, Mbokazi has been an ever-present, starting every competitive match for the Sea Robbers, and even slipping on the captain’s armband while Nkosinathi Sibisi recovers from injury.
Fans have been taking notice too, and their votes have made it clear: Mbokazi is the name on everyone’s lips this season.
MBEKEZELI MBOKAZI NAMED ORLANDO PIRATES PLAYER OF THE MONTH
“Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s outstanding start to the 2025/26 season has not gone unnoticed, with the hard-tackling centre back being named Player of the Month for August,” Orlando Pirates announced.
The accolade has come not long after the club’s new coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, cautiously tipped Mbokazi for bigger things beyond Mzansi shores.
“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.
The French-Morrocan Orlando Pirates mentor didn’t stop there, adding a glimpse of what the future could hold if Mbokazi keeps his head down and works hard:
“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,” he concluded.
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