Ex-Chiefs defender raves about AFCON partnership with Mbokazi – ‘TLB makes my job easier’

Former Orlando Pirates star Mbekezeli Mbokazi has been on the rise since getting his chance to play in the top-flight football.

He is now an established starter for Bafana Bafana who are in Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The 20-year-old has been a rock at the heart of South Africa defence where he has been playing alongside teh former Kaizer Chiefs and FCSB centre-back Siyabonga Ngezana.

Ngezana is enjoying playing with the new Chicago Fire signing, insisting he makes his work easier.

Ahead of the final Group B game against Zimbabwe on monday evening, Ngezana has underlined the importrance of ensuring they get a positive result. He concedes Bafana Bafana have to try and do better than the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast where they finished third.

Mbokazi lauded for exploits

“I would say players like ‘TLB’ makes your job easier and it’s his time to shine, obviously I’m there also to apply a little bit of experience of what I know in football and try to manage, the most important thing is to win games as a team,” he told the media.

“We have many youngsters with not much experience at AFCON, maybe 12 players who have never played AFCON, it’s exciting and all of us are looking forward to gain experience with minutes, and we’re excited; it’s different [level]. It’s high tempo until the last minute.

“It’s a big tournament and playing AFCON, it comes with a lot of pressure, especially playing for South Africa – the last group played until third place [finish] so it’s a challenge for us to try and finish better as a new group, with new players.

“We need to try and go as far as we can as a team, if not win it, going as far as we can as a team,” Ngezana concluded.