Mbokazi Shares Broos’ Pre-Match Message to Bafana Ahead of Nigeria Game

After a sensational performance that saw him named Man of the Match, Bafana Bafana’s rising star, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, shared Hugo Broos’ speech that motivated him and the team before the big game against Nigeria. 

The 19-year-old defender was at the heart of the action, helping his side secure a vital 1-1 draw in Free State. When asked about coach Hugo Broos’ pre-match talk, Mbokazi's answer was both simple and powerful: Broos told them to “go out there and fight for their country.”

This message clearly resonated with the team, and particularly with Mbokazi, whose masterclass performance showed a maturity beyond his years. 

His display of grit and determination was crucial in holding off a strong Nigerian attack, and his individual brilliance was a key factor in Bafana Bafana moving within three points of World Cup qualification. 

For Mbokazi, it wasn't just a game—it was a battle for national pride, and his incredible performance was proof that he took Broos’s words to heart.

MBOKAZI ON WHAT BROOS SAID BEFORE THE GAME

“I’ll start by saying I’m happy that we trained well with the coach and the technical team telling us that we must go fight,” said Mbokazi on SABC Sport.

“They told us they can’t coach anything in the type of game like this because we both wanted a win.

“When we got inside, we spoke among ourselves that no one will be able to coach us from the touchline, there’s noise and we won’t hear the coach. 

“What we had to do was to fight together, that’s what helped us.”

He added, “We’re happy today because we’ve got high chances of qualifying for the World Cup.”

“In the upcoming games we must continue to win, all will be easy because this is the toughest game we knew we still had to play. We were expecting both a win or a draw. But we’re happy about the draw.”