As the FNB Stadium prepares to host a sold-out Soweto Derby this Saturday, Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou finds himself in a defensive dilemma. The ghost of Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s departure to MLS side Chicago Fire continues to haunt the Buccaneers’ backline, leaving a void that has destabilised the team’s once-impenetrable defensive structure.
With the 20-year-old in the lineup, the Buccaneers recorded an impressive 17 clean sheets across all competitions this season. Even during a disappointing CAF Champions League campaign, the Soweto giants managed three clean sheets in four matches, a testament to their defensive resilience. In the MTN8, they shut out opponents in two of their four fixtures.
The Betway Premiership proved to be their strongest defensive platform, with the team keeping nine clean sheets in 12 matches. They were equally solid in the Carling Knockout Cup, registering three clean sheets in four outings.
Across competitions, the numbers underline the defensive assurance that accompanied his presence in the team. The recent 2-1 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns highlighted a glaring lack of balance. Without Mbokazi’s presence at left centre-back, the defensive partnership that propelled Pirates to the top of the Betway Premiership has looked fragile. Most notably, Lebone Seema has not been the same in recent games. The synergy and cover previously provided by Mbokazi are gone, leaving Seema exposed and hesitant.
“I think losing Mbokazi hurt Pirates. It might be the difference between Pirates and Sundowns this year. They needed that boy,” said iDiski TV analyst Junior Khanye.
WHAT MBOKAZI BROUGHT TO THE PIRATES DEFENCE
Mbokazi was more than just a defender; he was the primary architect of Pirates’ transition play. His absence has stripped the team of several tactical dimensions. The diagonal switch to find wingers with laser-accurate long balls and those progressive carries are a thing of the past. The ‘bursts into space’ that forced opposition midfields to drop deep are no more. His impressive passing range and the constant threat of a goal-scoring shot from distance.
While Nkosinathi Sibisi is the club captain and a veteran of these high-pressure occasions, the tactical reality is biting. Sibisi, naturally right-footed and more of a traditional stopper, struggled to replicate Mbokazi’s ball-playing fluidity when shifted to the left side. The team’s build-up play has become predictable, lacking the left-footed angles required to bypass a Mamelodi Sundowns press.
While there may be a broader conversation around left centre-back balance, there is a more significant issue in this case. It is individual quality, and that is where Mbokazi’s departure has been felt most deeply.
‘TLB’ was a defining presence in the defence. His influence often proved decisive, turning potential losses into victories through crucial interventions at key moments. His consistency in one-on-one duels, composure under pressure, and ability to organise the backline were central to the team boasting the best defensive record in the league.
Since his exit, the defensive unit has not looked the same. The structure remains, but the stability and assurance he brought to the system are noticeably absent. His departure has left more than just a positional gap. It has left a leadership and performance void that will be difficult to fill.
IS MPHO CHABATSANE THE WILDCARD
This leads Ouaddou to his most significant selection headache – Mpho Chabatsane.
The January signing from Marumo Gallants is a natural, left-footed centre-back. In the recent Nedbank Cup clash against Casric Stars, Chabatsane looked at home at least in terms of bringing balance. Despite the eventual penalty shootout heartbreak, he showed glimpses of the required left centre back qualities the fans crave: a decent pass to build from the back and a willingness to progress the ball.
“And about Chabatsane, if you see the quality of his left foot, he’s a player who is very precise with his left foot, and he will help us when he comes,” Ouaddou explained recently.
But there’s no denying that he lacks the defensive steel and poise in transition that Mbokazi brings. While he boasts a great pass, he isn’t as reliable as Mbokazi when it comes to “putting out fires” or defending the box under heavy pressure.
Ouaddou now faces a choice between experience and stability. To start Chabatsane would mean benching his captain, Sibisi, on the biggest stage in South African football. Or dropping Seema, who has had a good start to life at the Buccaneers.
Either option is a bold move that could provide the tactical balance needed to reclaim Soweto’s bragging rights. If Ouaddou sticks with Sibisi, he risks a lopsided build-up that Chiefs will likely exploit. If he pivots to the new boy Chabatsane, he bets the Derby on a player with minimal experience in the Derby atmosphere.
The question remains: Does Abdeslam Ouaddou prioritise the armband or the system? The answer will be revealed when the team sheets are handed in at 14:30 on Saturday.
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