Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has explained the decision to hand Mbekezeli Mbokazi the captain’s armband in the pre-season friendly against Pafos FC on Sunday morning.
The Buccaneers are on a two-week pre-season tour in Marbella, Spain, gearing up for the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.
Pirates played to a 1-1 draw against Cyrus’ top division side Pafos, with a handful of new signings given a run in the team. The Soweto giants conceded early in the match before midfield sensation Relebohile Mofokeng levelled matters late in the first-half after receiving a great pass from Oswin Appollis.
Before their stalemate against Pafos, Pirates suffered a 2-0 defeat against English club Bolton Wanderers FC in the first training match of the tour a few days ago.
In a match against Cypriot champions, Nkosinathi Sibisi started the match, wearing the captain’s armband. After Bafana Bafana international was substituted in the second-half, Mbokazi captained the team despite only making his debut in the senior team a few months ago.
Mbokazi cut his tooth in the first team in March 2025 in a league clash against Chippa United. Since then, the 19-year-old went on to become a key figure in Pirates’ team under the then-head coach Jose Riveiro.
The KZN-born defender made 19 appearances in all competitions for Pirates last season, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
ABDESLAM OUADDOU TIPS MBOKAZI FOR BIG ROLE IN THE NEXT SEASON
Meanwhile, the Houghton-based side is yet to announce their new captain after Innocent Maela retired at the end of last season to take a non-playing role at the club.
Ouaddou has revealed that Mbokazi was given the armband because he’ll play a big role for the Sea Robbers in the upcoming campaign.
“Mbokazi is one of the big men of this team, he’s South African and he is proud of what he’s doing,” Ouaddou said on SuperSport TV.
“He’s someone we believe that he’s a captain, and we’re taking it step by step. We want to give him more game time because he will be one of the main men for us this season.
“So we’re trying to give him that responsibility, and he was fantastic, he had a great match, and he needs to continue like this,” the Moroccan mentor added.
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