Drawing comparisons to Orlando Pirates icons Mbulelo ‘OJ’ Mabizela and Siyabonga Sangweni, former captain Lucky Lekgwathi has likened a current Bucs star to the legends.
Mabizela donned the Ezimnyama Ngenkani shirt in the early 2000s before switching to the English Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, Sangweni had a successful five-year stint with the Sea Robbers, forming a solid centre-back pairing with Lekgwathi. Both of them hung up their boots in 2016.
‘Phinda Mzala’, as Lekgwathi is well-known, has spoken highly of one of Pirates’ current centre-backs, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who made his debut a few months ago.
Lekgwathi drew comparisons between the 19-year-old and former Pirates defenders Mabizela and Sangweni, stating his belief in Mbokazi to grow further.
LEKGWATHI ON MBOKAZI – ‘HE REMINDS ME OF OLD JOHN’
“He reminds me of ‘Old John’ [Mbulelo Mabizela]. Always, players from KZN don’t disappoint there [in the centre-back position],” said Lekgwathi during the interview with FARPost.
“First time when I watched his interview when he said ‘No one will just go past me easily’. I was like, ‘What this boy is saying?’. But after I watched him, I was like, ‘Yeah the boy is solid, he’s like Siya Sangweni’. Guys from KZN, particularly the defenders, I have faith in them, I believe in them.
“If you look at Mbokazi, for me, he reminds me of ‘Old John’. Even though he’s not yet in that level because he’s still young but when time goes, he’ll grow.
“The boy is on another level, and I like his confidence.”
Lekgwathi hopes Mbokazi will get the chance to represent Bafana Bafana and earn an overseas move.
“At Pirates, [youngsters] are given freedom to play, that’s why they play well, they’re given freedom to express themselves,” added Lekgwathi.
“I’m so proud of Mbokazi, I wish he continues that way, be humble. I want him to get an opportunity at Bafana Bafana and overseas.”
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