Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has urged teenage sensation Mbekezeli Mbokazi to pack his bags and head to Europe following another stellar performance in Bafana’s courageous 1–1 draw with Nigeria at the Free State Stadium last night.
The 19-year-old Mbokazi was named Man of the Match and, despite it being only his third appearance for the senior national team, held his ground impressively against Nigeria’s top stars.
“Look at a guy like Mbokazi. This guy has to go to Europe,” Broos exclaimed.
“He’s 19 years old. You see the way he’s playing — he already has the experience of 10 years at this level. This is only his third game with the national team, and you can see his quality. So, let’s hope some players can take that step next year. It will be very good for South African football, believe me.”
Mbokazi has enjoyed a meteoric rise with Orlando Pirates, captaining the side and featuring in all eight games this season.
His rapid ascent has sparked discussions between SAFA, Pirates and the national team coaches over whether he should also feature in the Under-20 World Cup, where he is considered a cornerstone of the squad.
Broos, himself a solid and reliable defender in his playing days — having featured for Belgium at Euro 1980 (runners-up) and the 1986 FIFA World Cup (fourth place) — clearly sees great potential in Mbokazi. With such glowing praise, the young defender would be wise to consider making the move to Europe.
Written by: Sandile Ndumo
