Jose Riveiro reveals why Orlando Pirates will struggle to keep Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Former Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has opened up about the qualities that make defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi a top player.

Mbokazi was promoted to the Pirates senior team by Riveiro last season and the left-footed centre-back has since become a key player for both club and country.

So good is he that even at 20, he is already one of the captains at Pirates, while he has become undroppable in the Bafana Bafana squad when few knew about him before March this year.

Mbokazi’s fearlessness, ability to sniff out danger and not panic under pressure has won over fans and observers with Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos already tipping him to move to Europe next year.

Riveiro in awe of Mbokazi’s ‘arrogance’

Riveiro is not surprised by the compliments as he watched the defender closely before giving him his big break and is predicting a big future for him as believes there is plenty more to come from the player.

“Personality, it is not only about your skills, it is about having the capacity to show your skills under pressure on a big stage and when everybody is looking at you,” Riveiro said of Mbokazi’s qualities when speaking to Andile Ncube on Sports Night Live.

“The players are the specialties because they have the capacity to do it in that moment. He [Mbokazi] is that kind of personality. He has all the attributes to be a super athlete, he has a lot of football in his brain and has the capacity to do it with arrogance but in a positive way.”

Mbokazi has remained a mainstay in the Pirates defence as Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side challenges on multiple fronts while he is yet to lose his place in the Bafana Bafana starting XI since making his debut in June.