Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Last updated
Mbekezeli Mbokazi
Personal information
Full name Mbekezeli Mfanufikile Mbokazi
Date of birth (2005-09-19) 19 September 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Chicago Fire
Number 4
Youth career
Makhasa F.C.
–2023 Langalibalele Academy
2024 Orlando Pirates DDC
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2025 Orlando Pirates 35 (3)
2026– Chicago Fire 0 (0)
International career‡
2024–2025 South Africa U20 5 (1)
2025– South Africa 3 (0)
Medal record
Representing Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
COSAFA U-20 Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Mozambique
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 09 September 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 09 September 2025

Mbekezeli Mfanufikile Mbokazi (born 19 September 2005) is a South African soccer player who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire and the South Africa national team.

Contents

Club career

Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates DDC

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

Mbokazi made his Orlando Pirates senior debut on 5 March 2025 in a 1–0 win over Chippa United. [2] He won his first man of the match award with Pirates against Mamelodi Sundowns with him credited for a great defensive showing on 16 March 2025. [3]

He captained the team in a pre-season friendly againts Pafos F.C. from Spain at just 19 years-old and become the youngest captain for the Buccaneers after Mbulelo Mabizela at 21 years-old in the 2002/03 season. [4] He was made vice-captain in the 2025/26 season. [5] Mbokazi made his continental debut in the 2025–26 CAF Champions League when he captained the side in a 3–0 win against Lioli from Lesotho. In the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup, he scored the winner in the round of 16 match against Siwelele to send the club into the quarterfinals. [6] He later won the October 2025 goal of month for his strike. [7] He ended his stay at Pirates by captaining the club in their 2025 Carling Knockout Cup win against Marumo Gallants in the final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on 6 December 2025 and won his second trophy with the club after their 2025 MTN 8 triumph earlier in the season. [8] [9]

He was nominated for the young player of the year award at the 2025 CAF awards. [10]

Chicago Fire

In December 2025, he was signed to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire with the deal running till 2029 with a club option for the 2029/30 season. [11] [12]

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. [13] [14] He played all matches in the tournament and scored the fifth goal in a 5-0 win over Malawi. [15]

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. [16] 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-all draw against Nigeria. [17]

Honours

South Africa

Orlando Pirates

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. ↑ Kohler, Lorenz (2025-03-17). "Mbokazi - We Knew They Were Not Going To Come Out Alive". iDiski Times. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  4. ↑ Munyai, Ofhani (2025-09-04). "Lekgwathi compares Mbokazi to legend 'Old John' Mabizela". Farpost. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  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. ↑ Phenyo, Selinda (2025-11-12). "Mbekezeli Mbokazi Wins Orlando Pirates Goal of the Month for October 2025 with Stunning Strike Against Siwelele FC | Central News South Africa" . Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  8. ↑ "Pirates coach Ouaddou gives Mbokazi the captain's armband in his final match for the club". TimesLIVE. 2025-12-06. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  9. ↑ Mahlase, Eliot (2025-12-06). "WATCH: Emotional scenes as Pirates fans say goodbye to Mbokazi". The South African. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
  10. ↑ Madyira, Michael (2025-10-22). "Mbokazi and Bafana earn CAF nomination as Broos misses out". Farpost. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  11. ↑ Calabrese, Alex (2025-12-02). "Chicago Fire sign Mbekezeli Mbokazi from Orlando Pirates - MIR97 Media" . Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  12. ↑ mlssoccer. "Chicago Fire acquire South African defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
  13. ↑ Mphelo, Namhla (2024-09-17). "Mdaka names 20 men squad ahead of U20 AFCON qualifiers - SAFA.net" . Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  14. ↑ Raophala, Mauwane (2024-10-05). "Raymond Mdaka guides Amajita to COSAFA Championship glory". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  15. ↑ "Raymond Mdaka's great admiration for Mbekezeli Mbokazi's talent | soccer". SABC. 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (10 September 2025). "Broos calls for Bafana's sensational Mbokazi to move to Europe". TimesLive. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
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