Plenty of praise was lavished upon the 19-year-old captain by Pirates’ head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou after the courageous 1-1 draw between Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final. Ouaddou, however, acknowledged that premature praise often leads to complacency; Mbokazi’s impression, though, was one that might make you think the boy could be playing in Europe for some big clubs if he continues moving forward.
A Performance to Remember in a High-Stakes Test
On the day of high pressure, Mbokazi paired with the new signing Lebone Seema at center-back with great confidence, calmness, tactical awareness, and maturity beyond his years. According to Ouaddou, in the way Mbokazi handled the occasion, his leadership, and his disciplined defending, a lot of mental strength and self-belief will be generated in Mbokazi as now he moves forward to grow.
Europe Could Be the Next Step for Mbokazi—So Long as He Remains Disciplined
“If Mbokazi continues to put in work, remain professional, and takes care of his lifestyle, he will have a great future,” said Ouaddou. The coach pointed out that the teenager’s desire and brilliance make him stand out and grab the attention of the top clubs in Europe. However, he also reminded that Mbokazi needs to keep his feet on the ground; consistency, self-discipline, and ever-improving abilities will make the difference in turning that huge potential into reality.
Following the Footsteps of Club Greats
A teenage captain coming through reignites memories of the early rise of Mbulelo Mabizela, who captained the Pirates in his young days before making his way to the English Premier League. Fast-tracked from the DStv Diski Challenge team into senior captaincy for a major club, Mbokazi seems to mirror that very act but from a different avenue—a testimony to his sheer talent and leadership promise.
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