Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has given an honest assessment of Mbekezeli Mbokazi following his impressive display against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final.
The Soweto giants welcomed Sundowns at the sold-out Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the first-leg of the MTN8 semi-final, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
Sundowns opened the scoring in the first stanza through Teboho Mokoena, while the home side found an equaliser, thanks to a strike from Kamogelo Sebelebele.
The new signing, Sebelebele, received a great diagonal ball from Mbokazi to open his scoring account for Pirates since signing from TS Galaxy in the off-season.
The talented 19-year-old defender serves as the club’s vice-captain alongside Tapelo Xoki, with Nkosinathi Sibisi as skipper. With Sibisi out due to injury and Xoki on the bench, Mbokazi took on the captain’s armband against Sundowns.
WHAT OUADDOU SAID ABOUT OUADDOU AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE
Following the draw against Sundowns, Ouaddou expressed his belief that Mbokazi has a bright future ahead of him. The former Marumo Gallants coach stressed that the young defender must keep a cool head to continue his development.
The Bafana Bafana international produced an impressive performance at the centre-back position against the dangerous Sundowns attackers.
“Let me be very honest, and you have to be careful when you compliment someone, they stop working,” Ouaddou said. “But I have to say it, as a coach, when I compliment a player that is doing well, it’s good for their mentality, confidence, and self-esteem.
“This guy [Mbokazi], if he continues to work, continue to be professional and take care of his lifestyle, I think he he as a great future.
“I have seen him again today [Saturday], he is just unbelievable, it’s a performance for big clubs in Europe, and we are happy to have him at Orlando Pirates, a big club in Africa, but he has to keep working.”
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