Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Kamogelo Sebelebel impress ahead of Bafana squad announcement

When Mbekezeli Mbokazi was announced as one of the vice-captains at Orlando Pirates this season, there were mixed reactions to the appointment.

Some argued that the pressure of leading one of the biggest clubs in Africa would fast-track his development, while others feared it might weigh him down.

So far, so good.

Mbokazi has taken the responsibility on the chin, captaining the team in the last five games following an injury to Nkosinathi Sibisi. The 19-year-old has led from the front with solid performances — including guiding newcomer Lebone Seema, who has stepped in for Sibisi.

Pirates remain unbeaten in their last four matches, with two wins in the Betway Premiership and two draws against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final.

With Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos set to announce his final squad to face Lesotho and Nigeria in next month’s World Cup qualifiers, Mbokazi is widely expected to make the cut. Broos handed him his international debut in a 2–0 friendly win over Mozambique at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last month.

Critics may argue that it was “just a friendly”, while the clashes against Likuena and the Super Eagles in Mangaung are for a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States. However, Mbokazi has shown greater consistency and defensive maturity than many of his direct competitors — and even some seniors — in the top flight since the start of the season.

He hasn’t done it alone, though. Several Pirates players have also impressed this term, including Kamogelo Sebelebele. The former TS Galaxy attacker has hit the ground running at Pirates, scoring in three successive matches and earning back-to-back Player of the Match awards.

Having already been named in the preliminary Bafana squad, expectations are high that he’ll get the final nod and return to the national setup. Sebelebele is no stranger to Bafana, having featured in the team that lost the COSAFA Cup final to Angola in Bloemfontein two months ago.

The 23-year-old’s blistering form comes at a critical time for Bafana, especially as the team continues to struggle for goals — compounded by ongoing uncertainty over Teboho Mokoena’s eligibility. Mokoena featured against Lesotho earlier this year despite being ineligible, having previously picked up yellow cards against Benin and Zimbabwe in earlier qualifiers.

As a result, opposition camps — particularly Nigeria — have called for Bafana to be docked three points. If the sanction is enforced, Bafana would remain top of Group C with 10 points, just one ahead of Lesotho, who would benefit from the punishment.

Heading into the qualifiers next month, Bafana cannot afford to falter. They must win both games to maintain control at the top of the group — especially in case of any further setbacks.

While striker Evidence Makgopa has yet to score this season, he could still play a crucial role by allowing Sebelebele and others to flourish. Makgopa excels at holding up play and creating space for runners — a tactic that worked well for Pirates last season.

Broos knows the value of the towering striker, having relied on him as his main forward during the last AFCON, where Bafana secured a third-place finish.

So, while I strongly advocate for Broos to give players like Mbokazi a deserved chance in the national setup, he must be cautious not to fix what isn’t broken. There needs to be a balance between experienced heads and rising talents, to ensure depth and flexibility in case of form dips or injuries ahead of the qualifiers — and the AFCON finals in December.