Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter confirmed the 20-year-old has suffered a serious thigh injury.
Mbokazi was absent from Chicago Fire’s 3-2 defeat to Inter Miami on Thursday and was once again missing as the MLS side fell 3-1 to New York City FC on Sunday.
Speaking after the match in comments shared by football journalist Lorenz Köhler, Berhalter confirmed the young South African sustained the injury during training and revealed that the club has placed him on Injured Reserve (IR).
“Mbokazi, you know, it is a miss. We feel like we have good centre-backs there anyway, but Mbokazi is a top centre-back, and we’re going to be missing him for a while. So we’ve got to get used to the new normal.
“It’s not good. He’s going to be out a while. He took a shot in training, hit the ground, scuffed the ground a little bit and ended up tearing his thigh. It’s serious. He won’t be back for a good amount of time. We’re actually putting him on the IR.”
The injury is a significant setback for both Chicago Fire and Bafana Bafana, with Mbokazi having quickly established himself as one of South Africa’s brightest defensive prospects.
While Chicago Fire have not disclosed an official recovery timeline, Berhalter’s update suggests the defender is facing an extended spell on the sidelines. Should the injury prove to be a Grade 3 thigh muscle tear, recovery could take up to six months, although the exact timeframe will depend on the severity of the tear and his rehabilitation progress.
Mbokazi’s absence will force Chicago Fire to reshuffle their defence, while South African fans will be hoping the talented centre-back makes a full recovery and returns to action as soon as possible.
Written by: Sandile Ndumo
