
Opinion: Why Orlando Pirates 'TLB' should move to Europe and not Al Ahly
The 19-year-old left-footed player has played a total of 17 matches across all competitions this season and has scored one goal, which was in the Nedbank Cup.
Displaying maturity, discipline, and authority, Mbokazi is undoubtedly one of the league's best defenders. The question remains: Will he stay with Orlando Pirates beyond next season?
In recent weeks, he has been linked with a move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly. However, such a transfer appears unlikely, given that the teenager has recently broken into the starting eleven for Pirates.
Mbokazi was given his chance by the departed Bucs coach, Jose Riveiro. With Riveiro set to join Al Ahly, there are rumours that he wants to bring Mbokazi along with him.
A move to Al Ahly wouldn't make sense, especially considering how Pirates have fared in the CAF Champions League. Both teams were eliminated in the semifinals of the competition and will compete again next season.
At Orlando Pirates, Mbokazi has the opportunity to develop. He is not a finished product and needs another season or two to refine his defensive game.
The most logical move for him would be to transition to Europe next season. Another year in the PSL would provide him with confidence and valuable experience.
Moving to Egypt might turn out poorly for TLB, similar to what happened with Percy Tau when he joined Pitso Mosimane at Al Ahly. Although Tau won league titles and the Champions League, he did not see improvements in his game.
Ultimately, it will be up to Orlando Pirates to retain him for another season and wait for the right offer from overseas.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
10 minutes ago
- IOL News
Exclusive: Edward Motale tips Pirates to finally end Mamelodi Sundowns' PSL dominance
COACH Abdeslam Ouaddou;s experience of playing in top leagues is expected to help him at Orlando Pirates. | Orlando Pirates Image: OP/Facebook ORLANDO Pirates legend Edward Motale is confident that the Soweto giants have done enough in the current transfer window to not only mount a serious challenge against Mamelodi Sundowns, but to bring an end to the Pretoria-based side's dominant reign at the top of South African football. The Buccaneers have not lifted the league title since the 2011/12 season, but after pushing closer to the top during the previous campaign than they have in recent years – even though they ultimately finished 13 points behind champions Sundowns – there's a renewed sense of optimism in Orlando. A large part of that comes from their activity in the market, with several new signings boosting hopes that they can go all the way this time. Pirates will also head into the new campaign under new leadership following the departure of head coach Jose Riveiro to Egyptian giants Al Ahly at the end of last season. Moroccan tactician Abdeslam Ouaddou has already taken over, and he has inherited a team that reached the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League and also played in the Nedbank Cup final. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Despite missing out on silverware in the final stretch – with only the MTN8 trophy to show for their efforts – the team showed significant progress, and expectations are once again high for the upcoming season. Motale, a former Bucs defender who played a key role in the club's historic 1995 CAF Champions League-winning side, believes that Pirates have what it takes to not only compete with Sundowns but to finally surpass them. 'The club knows where they went wrong last season,' Motale told Independent Newspapers. 'Before the coach left, he even admitted that they were too confident in certain matches and dropped points against so-called smaller teams – that's where they lost the title. 'The fact that they've already acknowledged what cost them shows a team that's learning and growing. That gives me the belief that this season they won't just be challengers – they will go all the way and win the league.' The Sea Robbers recently concluded a pre-season tour in Spain, which gave new coach Ouaddou a valuable opportunity to assess his squad in competitive conditions. The trip also allowed him to experiment with combinations and get a clearer picture of the team's depth heading into what could be a demanding campaign. Motale praised the value of the tour, saying it gave many players a chance to prove themselves while also helping the coaching staff make informed decisions ahead of their MTN8 title defence. 'I saw the last two matches of the tour,' Motale continued. 'You can't judge too much from only a few games, but it was important for every player to get game time. 'It was also an opportunity for the coach to see who fits where, to try out combinations. 'I don't think he'll struggle with a large squad. In fact, I suspect that even in those four matches, he has already figured out a few preferred combinations and maybe even his best starting eleven. 'He played at the highest level, and when someone has that kind of experience, it doesn't take long to spot your top players. He'll know who to go with.' The Buccaneers will kick off the defence of their MTN8 title against Polokwane City on August 2 at the Orlando Stadium, with the league season set to begin soon after.


The Citizen
40 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Ackermann says he's ‘not different, only more streetwise' since his Lions days
New Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says he is not a different coach, but a more streetwise and experienced one than he was before. New Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said he has become more 'streetwise and experienced,' learning about player management and the value of inclusivity in the seven years since he left the Lions. Ackermann led the Lions to Super Rugby finals in 2016 and 2017 before joining Gloucester and reaching the 2018 Challenge Cup final. He later coached in Japan, guiding Urayasu to Division 1 promotion in 2022, and recently consulted with the Junior Springboks, who won this year's World Championship. While in Japan, he earned the Division 2 Coach of the Year award, adding to his three South African Coach of the Year honours. Ackers learns much overseas Now back in South Africa, Ackermann said he aims to build a healthy, value-driven culture at the Bulls centred on mutual respect, humility, service, and teamwork — getting the best out of players while ensuring they enjoy what they do. 'I wouldn't say different,' he said when asked how he had changed since his Lions tenure. 'Maybe more streetwise, a bit more experienced. A bit more wary of how important it is to include different cultures.' He also highlighted the importance of players understanding the demands of modern rugby, especially extensive travel and adapting to team systems. 'Culture was the big thing [overseas]. You had All Blacks. They wanted a certain style; they wanted to play a certain way. Then you had an English player, then you had a Scottish player… 'So to create that unity and to also put your stamp on it, it took a lot of convincing. You have to really be strong on your principles and how you want to play, and also allow them to have input.' Ackermann balances being fun and being hands-on Ackermann said coaching the Lions was easier due to a fresh group that was more willing to be moulded the way he and Swys de Bruin wanted. At Gloucester and in Japan, he worked with strong personalities and internationals like Liam Gill, Israel Folau, and Greig Laidlaw. 'You have to learn as a coach that sometimes you can learn from them as well. There are good inputs there.' Still, he believes the team's direction must come from the coach. On his current role, he said Phiwe Nomlomo had led the Currie Cup side well and he didn't want to overshadow him. 'It will be a good opportunity for me to be on the back seat… then I can start sharing how I see things.' 'I think to be yourself is the best thing. To bring a bit of dancing and a bit of laughter and a bit of music. Everybody enjoys that, doesn't matter what culture they are.'


The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Ranked: FIVE best Kaizer Chiefs coaches in the PSL era
Kaizer Chiefs have had some great coaches over the past 55 years, but the focus here is on the five best coaches since the inception of the Premier Soccer League (PSL). Only two coaches in the club's history have won the league title within the last 30 years, indicating a lack of consistency. While the club enjoyed success in terms of trophies since their formation, everything changed in 2015 when Stuart Baxter left, leading to a decade without any silverware. The trophy drought came to an end in May when they won the Nedbank Cup. 1. Ted Dumitru The late Romanian coach led Amakhosi to their first PSL league title in the 2003/04 season. Nicknamed 'Master Ted,' Dumitru successfully defended the title the following season in a memorable campaign. During the championship race, Amakhosi managed to overtake the season-long leaders, Orlando Pirates, in the last game of the season. Dumitru was praised for his strategic approach to matches and for inspiring Amakhosi's late-season surge. 2. Muhsin Ertugral Ertugral is one of the most iconic coaches in the PSL era. He won six major trophies during his time at Naturena and is best known for leading 'Operation Vat Alles' in 2001, which saw Chiefs clinch every cup competition in the league. 3. Stuart Baxter Baxter's first tenure saw him win four trophies with Amakhosi, and he became the second coach after Dumitru to win a league title for the team in the PSL era. He left abruptly in 2015 but returned in 2021, although he was unable to replicate the success that saw him guide the Glamour Boys to two doubles. 4. Paul Dolezar Known as 'Mr. Rothmans Cup,' Dolezar claimed three consecutive Rothmans Cups, winning two back-to-back with Chiefs. While he struggled to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the league title, many believe that with more time, he could have led the team to a league championship. 5. Ernst Middendorp Mazinyo's first stint with Amakhosi was a mixed experience; he won the Absa Cup and the SAA Super 8. He returned to the club a decade later in 2018 and came close to winning the league. Middendorp is one of the few Kaizer Chiefs coaches to lead the club to a second-place finish in the PSL era. Unfortunately, he was dismissed after losing the title in the final 15 minutes of the season. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.