The next big thing? Xoki hails rising Pirates star Mbokazi

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Apr 12, 2025. 15:00

Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi is one of the youngsters grabbing attention in the PSL at the moment, and has been a hot topic with his performances lately.

The 19-year-old took his chance to feature in the team with both hands, and since making his senior debut against Chippa United, he has started in all of Pirates’ matches, including in domestic and continental football.

Fellow defender Tapelo Xoki weighed in on what makes Mbokazi special, as he’s also been called up to represent South Africa at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations this month.

“He has made it easy for us to play with him. He listens, he works hard, so we just guide him where we need to,” Xoki said as per IOL.

“We don’t want to give him too much on information, but we let him play his game, allow him to make mistakes and cover him when he makes those mistakes.

“We just encourage him to be himself – and that’s the same with the other youngsters. We don’t want to impose a lot of information on them.

“We just let them be and allow them to enjoy themselves. So it’s for him to take things game by game because the sky is the limit and the world is his oyster.

“Who knows? If he keeps doing the things that he’s doing right, and improving where he needs to, he could be the next big thing in this country.”