Former Bafana Bafana forward Sibusiso Vilakazi has weighed in on Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s last dance for Orlando Pirates when they take on Marumo Gallants in the Carling Knockout Cup final tonight.
The sold-out cup final between the Buccaneers and Bahlabane ba Ntwa will be played at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. This much-awaited showdown will start at 18:00.
With the Soweto giants having confirmed the transfer of Mbokazi to MLS side Chicago Fire on Tuesday, December 2, the 20-year-old will play his last game for Pirates on Saturday evening.
In the current season, ‘TLB’, as he is well known within football circles, has already lifted the MTN8 title with the Sea Robbers and would be keen on a victorious swansong tonight to put a cherry on top of his Bucs career.
WHAT SIBUSISO VILAKAZI SAID ABOUT MBEKEZELI MBOKAZI’S LAST game
The former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker, Vilakazi, suggested it would be a fitting “send-off”—a true fairytale—if the stalwart centre-back Mbokazi were to cap his domestic career by lifting the Carling trophy ahead of his new chapter in the MLS.
“It will be a fairytale story, right? You will have to leave a team that has given you the opportunity. Also, he is holding on to the opportunity and making a good volume of performances through his club and the national team,” Vilakazi told FARPost.
“He has a bright future ahead of him. This could be a stepping stone for him, not only in the MLS but also going further, based on what they have seen in him.
“I think his destiny is more than a stepping stone, and I believe he is a boy who has a good attitude and always strives to be one of the best. The sky is the limit for him, to be honest with you.
“One would love to have that fairytale story of him lifting the trophy on that day. So, let’s see how his teammates help him achieve this, not only for him but for the Pirates institution overall, to show that they can make it a double and give them a boost going forward because they still have the Betway Premiership and the Nedbank Cup [to compete for].”
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