Mbekezeli Mbokazi
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mbekezeli Mfanufikile Mbokazi | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 19 September 2005 | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||
| Position | Defender | |||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||
Current team | Chicago Fire | |||||||||||||
| Number | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||
| – | Makhasa F.C. | |||||||||||||
| –2023 | Langalibalele Academy | |||||||||||||
| 2024 | Orlando Pirates DDC | |||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 2025 | Orlando Pirates | 35 | (3) | |||||||||||
| 2026– | Chicago Fire | |||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | South Africa U20 | 5 | (1) | |||||||||||
| 2025– | South Africa | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 09 September 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 09 September 2025 | ||||||||||||||
Mbekezeli Mfanufikile Mbokazi (born 19 September 2005) is a South African soccer player who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire and the South Africa national team.
Club career
Orlando Pirates
Orlando Pirates DDC
He captained the Pirates DDC team in the PSL Reserve in 2024.[1]
Mbokazi made his Orlando Pirates senior debut on 5 March 2025 in a 1–0 win over Chippa United.[2] He won his first man of the match award with Pirates against Mamelodi Sundowns with him credited for a great defensive showing on 16 March 2025.[3]
He captained the team in a pre-season friendly againts Pafos F.C. from Spain at just 19 years-old and become the youngest captain for the Buccaneers after Mbulelo Mabizela at 21 years-old in the 2002/03 season.[4] He was made vice-captain in the 2025/26 season.[5] Mbokazi made his continental debut in the 2025–26 CAF Champions League when he captained the side in a 3–0 win against Lioli from Lesotho. In the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup, he scored the winner in the round of 16 match against Siwelele to send the club into the quarterfinals.[6] He later won the October 2025 goal of month for his strike.[7] He ended his stay at Pirates by captaining the club in their 2025 Carling Knockout Cup win against Marumo Gallants in the final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on 6 December 2025 and won his second trophy with the club after their 2025 MTN 8 triumph earlier in the season.[8][9]
He was nominated for the young player of the year award at the 2025 CAF awards.[10]
Chicago Fire
In December 2025, he was signed to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire with the deal running till 2029 with a club option for the 2029/30 season.[11][12]
Youth international career
Mbokazi was selected for 2024 COSAFA U-20 Cup with the South Africa national under-20 soccer team that won the tournament and qualified for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.[13][14] He played all matches in the tournament and scored the fifth goal in a 5-0 win over Malawi.[15]
International career
In May 2025, Mbokazi got his first Senior International call-up for the two friendly games against Tanzania and Mozambique, where he ultimately made his debut in a 2-0 win against Mozambique.[16] He was called up again for the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria in September 2025. He played both games and ultimately had a man of the match performance in the 1-all draw against Nigeria.[17]
Honours
South Africa
Orlando Pirates
References
- ^ Sithole, Sinethemba (2025-03-20). "How Chiefs and 3 other PSL clubs rejected Mbokazi". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ Reporter, KO Staff. "Pirates' new 'Mbazo' shines on debut". Kickoff. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ Kohler, Lorenz (2025-03-17). "Mbokazi - We Knew They Were Not Going To Come Out Alive". iDiski Times. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ Munyai, Ofhani (2025-09-04). "Lekgwathi compares Mbokazi to legend 'Old John' Mabizela". Farpost. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ^ Biyela, Lunga (2025-07-30). "Orlando Pirates hand captaincy to Nkosinathi Sibisi, teenage star Mbekezeli Mbokazi named vice-captain". IOL. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ^ "'Orlando Pirates' Mbokazi scored Goal of Century that left Siwelele keeper with Trauma! Evidence Makgopa is inspired by Khanyisa Mayo; but Mbekezeli playing for Amajita is disrespectful' - Fans | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 2025-10-04. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
- ^ Phenyo, Selinda (2025-11-12). "Mbekezeli Mbokazi Wins Orlando Pirates Goal of the Month for October 2025 with Stunning Strike Against Siwelele FC | Central News South Africa". Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ "Pirates coach Ouaddou gives Mbokazi the captain's armband in his final match for the club". TimesLIVE. 2025-12-06. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ^ Mahlase, Eliot (2025-12-06). "WATCH: Emotional scenes as Pirates fans say goodbye to Mbokazi". The South African. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ^ Madyira, Michael (2025-10-22). "Mbokazi and Bafana earn CAF nomination as Broos misses out". Farpost. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ Calabrese, Alex (2025-12-02). "Chicago Fire sign Mbekezeli Mbokazi from Orlando Pirates - MIR97 Media". Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ mlssoccer. "Chicago Fire acquire South African defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ^ Mphelo, Namhla (2024-09-17). "Mdaka names 20 men squad ahead of U20 AFCON qualifiers - SAFA.net". Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ Raophala, Mauwane (2024-10-05). "Raymond Mdaka guides Amajita to COSAFA Championship glory". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ "Raymond Mdaka's great admiration for Mbekezeli Mbokazi's talent | soccer". SABC. 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ "Hugo Broos hands Orlando Pirates' Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota & Simphiwe Selepe maiden Bafana Bafana call-ups for Tanzania and Mozambique matches, while Kaizer Chiefs players are snubbed - AGAIN | Goal.com South Africa". www.goal.com. 2025-05-29. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (10 September 2025). "Broos calls for Bafana's sensational Mbokazi to move to Europe". TimesLive. Retrieved 10 September 2025.