Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Personal information
Date of birth	(2005-09-19) 19 September 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth	Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Orlando Pirates
Number	44
Youth career
2023	Langalibalele Academy
2024	Orlando Pirates DDC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2025-	Orlando Pirates
International career
2024-	South Africa U20	5	(1)
2025–	South Africa	1	(0)
Medal record Representing   South Africa COSAFA U-20 Cup 2024 Mozambique
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mbekezeli Mbokazi (born 19 September 2005) is a South African soccer player who plays as a central defender for South African Premiership side Orlando Pirates and the South Africa national team.

Club career

Orlando Pirates DDC

He captained the Pirates DDC team in 2024. ^[1]

Orlando Pirates

Mbokazi made his Orlando Pirates debut on 5 March 2025 in a 1-0 win over Chippa United. ^{[2] [3]}

He won his first Man of the Match award with Pirates against Mamelodi Sundowns with Mbokazi credited for a great defensive showing on 16 March 2025. ^[4]

Youth international career

Mbokazi was selected for 2024 COSAFA U-20 Cup with the South Africa national under-20 soccer team that won the tournament and qualified for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. ^{[5] [6]} He played all matches in the tournament and scored the fifth goal in a 5-0 win over Malawi. ^[7]

References

1. Sithole, Sinethemba (2025-03-20). "How Chiefs and 3 other PSL clubs rejected Mbokazi". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
2. Reporter, KO Staff. "Pirates' new 'Mbazo' shines on debut". Kickoff. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
3. "Former Orlando Pirates defender praises newly discovered talent Mbokazi & identifies his areas of improvement - 'I'm only concerned about his pace' | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 2025-03-20. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
4. Kohler, Lorenz (2025-03-17). "Mbokazi - We Knew They Were Not Going To Come Out Alive". iDiski Times. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
5. Mphelo, Namhla (2024-09-17). "Mdaka names 20 men squad ahead of U20 AFCON qualifiers - SAFA.net" . Retrieved 2025-03-22.
6. Raophala, Mauwane (2024-10-05). "Raymond Mdaka guides Amajita to COSAFA Championship glory". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
7. "Raymond Mdaka's great admiration for Mbekezeli Mbokazi's talent | soccer". SABC. 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2025-03-22.