Orlando Pirates reserve team coach Joseph Makhanya has revealed that the club is closing in on promoting defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi to the first team.
Makhanya highly praised Mbokazi after Pirates narrowly beat Golden Arrows 1-0 at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium last weekend with Mbokazi captaining the Buccaneers reserve side.
The 19-year-old from KwaZulu-Natal recently represented Amajita at the U20 AFCON COSAFA Qualifier in Mozambique, which South Africa won, forming part of a formidable defence that did not concede a single goal.
Duku-Duku revealed that Mbokazi is closing in on gaining promotion to the Pirates’ senior team. Pirates currently face a crisis in defence with Olisa Ndah, Thapelo Xoki and Sandile Mthethwa all set to be sidelined due to respective injuries.
“This platform – DStv Diski Challenge is created for these boys,” Makhanya told the SuperSport website.
“If you look at where Mbekezeli Mbokazi comes from, it was his first season last season but the strides he has made have been nothing short of amazing.
“Soon there’s an announcement that would be made, where we will no longer see Mbokazi in the DDC.
“You must think back where he is coming from, all the way from Hluhluwe. It was even difficult to talk to him about tactics, so you needed to make sure that you speak to him in his own language, and he became comfortable and once he became comfortable, he became a leader,” Makhanya added.
 100vw, 1024px” data-lazy-src=”https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/B24JEM0761-1024×876.jpg” /></a><figcaption class=)
Siyabonga Mabena and Mbekezeli Mbokazi of South Africa celebrate during the 2024 TotalEnergies U20 Afcon COSAFA Qualifier Final Match between South Africa and Zambia at ABB Stadium in Maputo on the 05 October 2024 © Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix“He is now a leader, and this is what Pirates is about, giving opportunities to youngsters from all different spheres of the country. The Diski Challenge is about giving chances to the young ones, we have seen how Rele [Relebohile Mofokeng] and Mohau [Mohau Nkota] have progressed, they are all coming from this group.
“Mbekezeli has shown enough of what he wants, maybe next week he will be training with the first team fulltime. It means it is one trophy won, which is something I’m very proud of.
“Rele is winning matches at the first team, and Nkota is waiting to win matches. Mbekezeli will be there to stop goals for the first team.
“I am happy that when Rele got a chance he took it and after him all the players started believing.”