Are Orlando Pirates missing Mbokazi? Ex-Chiefs star delivers verdict

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Are Orlando Pirates missing Mbokazi? Ex-Chiefs star delivers verdict

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye believes Orlando Pirates are missing Mbekezeli Mbokazi who left the club in December.

Mbokazi had quickly established himself as one of the club’s most reliable central defenders despite only having played one-and-half-seasons in the senior Pirates team and attracted the interest of MLS side Chicago Fire.

The defender played his last match for Pirates in December before joining the Bafana Bafana camp for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from where he headed to the United States of America.

Pirates’ defenders couldn’t handle Leon

Since his departure, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has been relying on Nkosinathi Sibisi and Lebone Seema as his centre-back partnership and while they have done well, they were brutally exposed by Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday.

The two could not handle Sundowns forward Brayan Leon, who was too clever for them on two occasions, as he got on the end of two great balls from Nuno Santos and Aubrey Modiba, which the centre-backs could not also keep out.

Khanye feels Mbokazi’s absence is being felt and it was evident against Sundowns, who won 2-1 on Wednesday, to blow the title race wide open.

Khanye on impact of Mbokazi’s departure

“Seema’s main job is to defend and not to play,” Khanye said on iDiski TV. “He was tested in today’s game. For Orlando Pirates I think losing Mbokazi cost them and I understand why he had to leave. It’s for his career.

Peter Shalulile vies for the ball with Masindi Nemtajela and Mbekezeli Mbokazi. Photo Mamelodi Sundowns

“We are happy for him and if the boy is doing well, South Africa is benefitting. [But] I don’t think there was a link between Sibisi and Seema at centre-back,” he added, casting doubts on the two defenders.

However, while the Pirates defenders have been criticised, it is worth noting that it was just the second game in which they were conceding since Mbokazi left.

Since Mbokazi’s departure, they have played six games and kept four clean sheets, winning five of the games. Before playing Sundowns, their only ‘blemish’ was in a 4-1 win over Tshakhuma in the Nedbank Cup. 

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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