Orlando Pirates Defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi Faces Crucial Decision

Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi is set to become a central topic of discussion in the coming weeks as decisions are made about his immediate footballing future. The key question is whether he will travel with Amajita to the Under-20 World Cup in Chile or remain with Pirates to focus on first-team duties now that he has broken into the Bafana Bafana squad.

Mbokazi turns 20 this month, making him eligible for the youth tournament running from September 27 to October 19. The competition allows players born between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2009. Amajita’s Group E matches are scheduled against France on September 29, New Caledonia on October 2, and the USA on October 5.

Should Mbokazi travel to Chile and Amajita progress to the knockout stages, he would miss Bafana’s October camp for the final two World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. The Last 16 is scheduled from October 7-9, quarterfinals on October 11-12, semifinals on October 15, and the final on October 19. Participation through at least the Last 16 would also see him miss at least three club matches for Orlando Pirates.

Mbokazi made his first-team debut for Pirates in December but has quickly become a key player, even wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Nkosinathi Sibisi. His inclusion in Bafana Bafana’s upcoming fixtures against Lesotho and Nigeria could mark the start of his senior international career and potentially a spot in the AFCON finals in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Travelling to Chile offers him a chance to compete on a global stage against peers his own age, providing invaluable experience. Amajita coach Raymond Mdaka addressed Mbokazi’s situation, emphasizing the team’s support for the player while acknowledging his current commitment to Bafana Bafana.

“We told ourselves that yes, we are without Mbokazi, but we are with him in spirit,” Mdaka said. “We believe he can still form part of the final squad. He has grown with this team and has been part of the process that got us this far. I will not comment much because he is currently with Bafana Bafana for the World Cup qualifiers. If he was not with Bafana, he was going to be with us.”

The coming weeks will determine whether Mbokazi continues his rise with Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana or takes on the challenge of representing South Africa at the Under-20 World Cup.