Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Personal information
Date of birth	(2005-09-19) 19 September 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth	Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Position	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	17	(0)
International career‡
2024–2025	South Africa U20	5	(1)
2025–	South Africa	3	(0)
Medal record Representing   South Africa COSAFA U-20 Cup 2024 Mozambique
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 09 September 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 09 September 2025

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 the PSL Reserve 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]

He was made Vice-Captain in the 2025/26 season. ^[5] He scored the winner in the round of 16 match against Siwelele in the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup to send the club into the quarterfinals. ^[6]

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. ^{[7] [8]} He played all matches in the tournament and scored the fifth goal in a 5-0 win over Malawi. ^[9]

International career

In May 2025, Mbokazi got his first Senior International call-up for the two friendly games against Tanzania and Mozambique, where he ultimately made his debut in a 2-0 win against Mozambique ^[10] . He was called up again for the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria in September 2025. He played both games and ultimately had a Man of the Match performance in the 1-1 draw against Nigeria. ^[11]

Honours

South Africa U-20

• COSAFA U-20 Challenge Cup: 2024

Orlando Pirates

• MTN 8: 2025

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. Biyela, Lunga (2025-07-30). "Orlando Pirates hand captaincy to Nkosinathi Sibisi, teenage star Mbekezeli Mbokazi named vice-captain". IOL. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
6. "'Orlando Pirates' Mbokazi scored Goal of Century that left Siwelele keeper with Trauma! Evidence Makgopa is inspired by Khanyisa Mayo; but Mbekezeli playing for Amajita is disrespectful' - Fans | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 2025-10-04. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
7. Mphelo, Namhla (2024-09-17). "Mdaka names 20 men squad ahead of U20 AFCON qualifiers - SAFA.net" . Retrieved 2025-03-22.
8. Raophala, Mauwane (2024-10-05). "Raymond Mdaka guides Amajita to COSAFA Championship glory". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
9. "Raymond Mdaka's great admiration for Mbekezeli Mbokazi's talent | soccer". SABC. 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
10. "Hugo Broos hands Orlando Pirates' Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota & Simphiwe Selepe maiden Bafana Bafana call-ups for Tanzania and Mozambique matches, while Kaizer Chiefs players are snubbed - AGAIN | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 2025-05-29. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
11. Mphahlele, Mahlatse (10 September 2025). "Broos calls for Bafana's sensational Mbokazi to move to Europe". TimesLive. Retrieved 10 September 2025.