Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Siyanda Zwane might be the biggest Mbekezeli Mbokazi fan you have ever come across. Zwane has declared Mbokazi’s impact in the Betway Premiership as something that will never be recreated.
Zwane pointed out that Mbokazi’s talent has been celebrated beyond Pirates fanbase, something he feels is also reserved for the very special.
The 20-year-old central defender has shown one of the most rapid breakthroughs from junior to senior international football that local fans have ever seen.
MBEKEZELI MBOKAZI’S RAPID RISE
Mbokazi made his senior Pirates debut on 5 March 2025, in a 1-0 win over Chippa United in Gqeberha. He soon captained South Africa’s U20 team to the COSAFA Championship title. He finished the term by helping Pirates finish second in the Betway Premiership, as well as the run to the CAF Champions League semi-finals.
At just 19, he became a Bafana Bafana international against Mozambique at Peter Mokaba Stadium. More appearances quickly followed, including the now-famous performance Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Additionally, CAF recognised Mbokazi with a nomination for Young African Player of the Year. After just nine months as a Pirates star, he has signed for Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.
“What this boy has managed to do in the Betway Premiership, at his age, will never be undone,” Zwane said on TikTok. “It will never be reversed.
“As a footballer in South Africa playing for Orlando Pirates, for you to be praised by Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, that is very special. You must know that you are that good.
SIYANDA ZWANE: MBOKAZI DOES NOT CRACK UNDER PRESSURE
“TLB is that player every coach will want to work with. His game starts with his mentality. His mental fortitude is great. I have never seen TLB crack under pressure.”
After marvelling at Mbokazi’s transition from the DStv Diski Challenge to the first team, Zwane said he was eager to see how the Hluhlulwe-born star was to handle big games like the Soweto derby, Mamelodi Sundowns, CAF Champions League and AFCON levels.
“I thought maybe he is a one-match wonder. Let me see him against Lucas Ribeiro,” Zwane said. “This boy dealt with Ribeiro. He took Ribeiro to the cleaners. He put him in his pocket for the whole 90 minutes.
The former Uthongathi, Ajax Cape Town and Bidvest Wits full-back also highlighted Mbokazi’s defensive dominance, physical presence and positional awareness. He noted how even experienced strikers started to avoid showdowns with him.
“The power of his challenges, the way he dominates his space, even strikers started to fear him,” Zwane said. “I have never seen him caught out of position. I am not saying it does not happen, but I have never seen it.
“Even when Pirates are on the attack, Mbokazi is always in the right position. When he is in rest defence, he is always ready to react to anything that can happen. There have been moments where strikers break the lines, where Mbokazi is one or two seconds later, have you seen his recovery? Have you seen his speed and his angles?” Have you seen how well he closes passing lanes?”
MBOKAZI CAN COMPETE IN THE AIR, SAYS ZWANE
“The power of his challenges, the way he dominates his space, even strikers started to fear him,” Zwane said. “I have never seen him caught out of position.
“The way he walked into AFCON, how he played against Mohamed Salah like he was playing against any other player… at his age,” Zwane said.
While some have questioned Mbokazi’s aerial ability, Zwane dismissed the doubts. He pointed to timing rather than height as the key to defending high balls.
“He wins a lot of high balls because of timing. Many world-class defenders have this quality. He is calm on the ball, confident in himself. “He will shine at Chicago Fire. The club we want to see him move to will find him there. The sky is the limit for this boy,” Zwane concluded.
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