Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Last updated
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*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2025- Orlando Pirates 17 (0)
International career‡
2024- 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 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.

Contents

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]

He was made Vice-Captain in the 2025/26 season. [5]

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. [6] [7] He played all matches in the tournament and scored the fifth goal in a 5-0 win over Malawi. [8]

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 [9] . 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. [10]

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. ↑ Mphelo, Namhla (2024-09-17). "Mdaka names 20 men squad ahead of U20 AFCON qualifiers - SAFA.net" . Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  7. ↑ Raophala, Mauwane (2024-10-05). "Raymond Mdaka guides Amajita to COSAFA Championship glory". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  8. ↑ "Raymond Mdaka's great admiration for Mbekezeli Mbokazi's talent | soccer". SABC. 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ 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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