Latest news with #MbekezeliMbokazi
The Herald
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Orlando Pirates name captain and two vices for 2025-26 season
The club said the ' position of captain has been vacant since the departure of long-serving defender Innocent Maela'. 'Maela led from 2022 to date, having taken over from another stalwart and legend, Happy Jele. 'In keeping with club tradition, the appointment came directly from the players through a confidential voting process. Emerging as the team's clear choice to wear the captain's armband is defender Nkosinathi Sibisi. 'Sibisi will be assisted by Thapelo Xoki and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who have been named as vice captains.' The selection of Mbokazi, only 19, who had an outstanding debut season for Pirates' senior team in 2024-25 and made his Bafana debut in June, is another vote of confidence in the quality and leadership potential of the young talent.
The South African
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates name their new captain, not always in the starting XI!
Orlando Pirates have a new skipper after the departure of Innocent Maela. They've also named two vice-captains. Commanding central defender Nkosinathi Sibisi takes the armband for 2025-2026. Meanwhile, fellow centre-halves Thapelo Xoki and Mbekezeli Mbokazi will act as vice-captains. Orlando Pirates get R31 million EFT, but it comes at a HUGE cost! 29-year-old Nkosinathi Sibisi has been given the captain's armband at Pirates. He was a key figure last season alongside breakout star Mbekezeli Mbokazi in the heart of defence after Thabiso Sesane was struck down with a long-term injury. What happens when Sesane returns will be fascinating, as he might even dislodge the new captain. That's a nice problem for new boss Ouaddao to have, though. Sibisi made 42 appearances last season across all competitions, including 25 in the league. According to KickOff , an agreement between Pirates and Saudi outfit Al-Ettifaq over the transfer of Rele Mofokeng has been reached. The fee is in the region of €1.5 million (R31 million). Can Mofokeng be replaced with that money, though? In many ways, he's already a priceless piece of the Pirates puzzle. 'Relebohele Mofokeng, the South African Orlando Pirates player, is set to move to Al-Ettifaq after the two clubs agreed on terms,' the publication, citing Saudi Arabian sources, stated. 'The sustainability committee's approval is pending before the official announcement. The transfer is valued at €1.5 million.' Orlando Pirates' best XI WITHOUT Mofokeng and Nkota revealed? Pirates sign Mokoena to a three-year deal Saleng paints a grim picture of his Orlando Pirates future Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Could 19-year-old Mbekezeli Mbokazi be the next captain to lead Orlando Pirates?
New Pirates captain? Teenager Mbekezeli Mbokazi's name has been thrown into the hat as Soweto giants Orlando Pirates look to appoint a new captain Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix At just 19, Mbekezeli Mbokazi is emerging as a shock candidate to captain Orlando Pirates – a sign of just how quickly the rising star has made his mark. Since making his senior debut last season, the defender's commanding performances in the famous black and white jersey have sparked growing calls for him to inherit the armband from the recently retired Innocent Maela. Now, after only a few senior appearances, Mbokazi is being mentioned among the contenders to replace Maela as club captain. Handing him the armband now could be seen as a big statement about his leadership qualities at such a young age. In a recent podcast, Mbokazi had the backing of former Pirates star Gerald Modabi, who felt he was ready for the extra responsibility. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. 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. 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Next Stay Close ✕ 'The coach said, even if you are 16 years old and you are good enough to play, he will play you. So, Mbekezeli is good enough to be captain,' Modabi said on the Total Football Podcast. 'He loves the football club, judging by his performances. I've worked with him, and he also loves his food. He wants to eat even five minutes before the start of training, which is crazy for me.' Even at such a young age, Mbokazi brings a sense of maturity to his game. This was something that was noted by Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, who gave him his international debut last month. 'I think what I saw from Mbokazi was, for me, his game is very mature, he makes good decisions, and he's a good defender,' the Bafana coach said last month. He has also been praised for his ability to read the game, his physical presence, composure under pressure, and most importantly, his leadership. In his first season in the senior team, his performances defied his age and he walked away with a number of man-of-the-match awards. Mbokazi's rapid rise reminds one of Mbulelo 'Oldjohn' Mabizela, who was discovered playing amateur football in KwaZulu-Natal. After being signed by Pirates at 20 years old, Mabizela became a regular fixture in the first team, and in his second season with the club, he was appointed captain. At just 21 years old, he led the club to a league title, and convinced then-national team coach Stuart Baxter to also hand him the armband. Unfortunately, Mabizela's career was later marked by off-field disciplinary issues. Mbokazi has all the talent in the world, and the attributes needed to lead a big club, but the club needs to learn from past lessons when it comes to handing such a young player the responsibility of leading one of the biggest clubs in the country. Whatever decision Abdeslam Ouaddou takes will be the right one, as he will have thoroughly weighed up all the pros and cons. What's clear, though, is that Mbekezeli Mbokazi has already captured the imagination of the Orlando Pirates faithful. Whether or not the captain's armband is placed on his sleeve just yet, he represents the club's future. His story is still being written, but the early chapters already read like the beginning of something special. If nurtured correctly, Mbokazi could not only lead Pirates into a new era, but become a symbol of what it means to wear the badge with pride, hunger, and heart. IOL Sport * The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media. ** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@ Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication). Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Orlando Pirates wants to sign a distinguished defender from Bafana Bafana!
Orlando Pirates wants to strengthen its defense for next season. Orlando Pirates wants to sign a distinguished defender from Bafana Bafana! Press reports have revealed that Orlando Pirates are seriously interested in signing a prominent star in the Bafana Bafana ranks, namely TS Galaxy defender Khulumani Ndamane, to be a sure part of the defensive system for next season. The young defender, aged 21, had a standout season, emerging as one of the Betway Premiership's brightest talents—a fact Orlando Pirates quickly noticed. Even with another rising star, 19-year-old Mbekezeli Mbokazi, also excelling at left-center back, the club sees Ndamane as a future asset, particularly if Mbokazi secures a transfer overseas. A real competition between Orlando Pirates and another club from South Africa Reports suggest the Buccaneers may battle Babina Noko for Ndamane's services. 'Two teams are keen on the player,' a Soccer Laduma source revealed. 'European interest existed, but currently, Pirates and Sekhukhune's approaches are most concrete.'\ Pirates' new recruits earning squad praise 'We'll monitor Ndamane's situation,' the insider added. Another source noted: 'Galaxy want to retain him, but football is unpredictable. An overseas offer would take precedence if it materializes.'
IOL News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Victorious Orlando Pirates' dynamics shocked former LaLiga pro in their pre-season finale
Orlando Pirates teenager Mbekezeli Mbokazi was impressive in his side's 2-0 win over Granada on Saturday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Orlando Pirates clinched a well-deserved 2-0 victory against Granada on Saturday at the Marbella Football Centre to end their pre-season tour of Spain on a high note. The result marked a significant morale boost for the Soweto giants, who had endured a string of challenging fixtures during their training stint abroad. After four games, Pirates secured their first tour win. Granada's head coach, José Rojo Martín – a former LaLiga professional – expressed admiration for Pirates' tactics. As part of his preparation for the match, he had reviewed footage of their goalless draw against Las Palmas last Thursday. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Speaking to SuperSport TV, a translator for Martín relayed the coach's surprise at the intensity and dynamics displayed by Orlando Pirates. 'He was quite shocked by the dynamic of the team, the intensity, and the quantity of the players,' he noted, adding: 'He has done the research and watched the match against Las Palmas.' The match against Granada began tentatively, with both sides feeling each other out during a stop-start opening quarter. Pirates created their first real chance in the 24th minute, though Mbekezeli Mbokazi's effort drifted wide. Mbokazi, surprisingly deployed at left-back, later found himself in several attacking roles but struggled to convert his opportunities. As the first half progressed, the Buccaneers began to find their rhythm. Boitumelo Radiopane came close to breaking the deadlock, but his header lacked the power to beat Granada goalkeeper Luca Zidane. Still, Pirates showcased their attacking intent, frequently surging forward with purpose. After a nervy first half, Pirates returned with renewed determination. Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine kept them in the contest with a string of crucial saves as Granada pressed forward. Persistence eventually paid off in the 82nd minute when Patrick Maswanganyi, well positioned inside the box, calmly slotted the ball into the net to hand Pirates the lead. The goal injected fresh energy into the side, and Relebohile Mofokeng soon doubled the advantage. After slipping past the final defender, he calmly finished into an open net to secure a deserved win. The result concluded Pirates' Spanish training camp on a high, leaving them unbeaten in their final three pre-season matches. As they return to South Africa to prepare for the 2025/26 season — starting with their MTN8 title defence against Polokwane City — their performances in Spain reflect a promising synergy that supporters hope will carry into the domestic campaign.
