Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has dismissed suggestions that Mbekezeli
Mbokazi’s move to Major League Soccer could jeopardize his place in the
national team.
Mbokazi joined Chicago Fire shortly after the Africa Cup of Nations in
Morocco, leaving Orlando Pirates nearly a year after making his senior debut
for the Soweto giants. While some supporters feared that the switch to MLS—a
league that has not always guaranteed players a spot in the Bafana
setup—might threaten the young defender’s international future, Broos has
laughed off such concerns and made it clear that Mbokazi remains firmly in
his plans.
The 20-year-old has been called up for the upcoming friendly internationals
against Panama in Durban and Cape Town, following an encouraging start to
his Chicago career. He is well-positioned to earn a place in the final squad
for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“I was laughing a few weeks ago when I was reading, ‘Should Mbokazi still be
with Bafana Bafana?’ …what a stupid thing was that,” Broos said on
Thursday after announcing his 23-man squad. “Why shouldn’t he be with Bafana
Bafana? He’s there, and I talked already a few times to the coach of
Chicago, and they are very happy with him.
“There are still some things to do, and I told the coach I know that, but
they will work on it. I hope he will become better and better.”
Broos also addressed the inclusion of former SuperSport United defender Ime
Okon, who has received call-ups before only to withdraw due to injuries.
Okon, who is also eligible to represent Nigeria, has become a regular at
German second-tier side Hannover. The Belgian coach is keen to assess not
just the player’s on-field ability but also his character off it—an aspect
Broos places great emphasis on.
“Ime Okon was with us in September already, but then he was injured. We took
him again in November and again he was injured. Let’s hope nothing happens,”
Broos said. “He plays in Hannover… okay, second division Germany, but it’s
tough.
“He is always in the team, he is always playing, so I want to see him
because I just know him as a football player. I don’t know the player as a
human being. So, it’s a good opportunity now, certainly with the injury to
Ngezana. I want to see how he is. I want to see how his attitude is and how
he is going to do.”
Broos also revealed that he would have liked to call up Olwethu Makhanya,
who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in MLS. The mention of the former
Stellenbosch FC defender suggests that Makhanya could soon be in line for
his first senior national team opportunity.
