Mbokazi’s imminent MLS transfer backed – ‘He’s going to play against Messi’

Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s reported imminent transfer to MLS club Chicago Fire has elicited mixed reactions but a former Orlando Pirates star is in support of the move.

Mbokazi, one of the biggest prospects in South African football currently, is reportedly on the verge of sealing a $3 million (R51 million) move to the MLS side from Pirates where he has become a key figure since his promotion to the senior team in March 2025.

However, some observers, pundits and fans have claimed the United States of America should not be where the hugely talented 20-year-old defender should be moving to at this point and he would rather wait for a club from Europe.

Should Mbokazi wait for a European club?

Those who support that argument claim Mbokazi can easily walk into a number of teams in the major leagues in Europe and should not ‘waste’ his talents by playing in a ‘lesser league’ like the MLS.

However, former Pirates midfielder Thulasizwe Mbuyane thinks Mbokazi is right to choose America over Europe as he will still flourish there and make the country proud.

“I see the news about Mbokazi in the media. They should just let him go to America. I don’t think Orlando Pirates will stand in his way,” Mbuyane told KickOff.

“It’s an opportunity for the boy to go and work, and if the R51 million rumour is true, then the move will also be good for the club. He must go fly the South African flag high.

Ex-Pirates star feels Messi will test TLB to the limit

“I think his consistency is the reason things are happening so swiftly for him. You can see whenever he is in the Pirates team, his hard work shows. He has been performing well for both the national team and Pirates.

“He is always doing well, so you can’t keep a good man down. If he goes there, he goes there to represent South Africa. It will be good for the country,” added the two-time PSL winner with Pirates.

Mbuyane also feels those despising the MLS are wrong as the league has some of the world’s top players like eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, who will give Mbokazi a great test.

“It’s an opportunity for him. It suits him very well because from there, he can go on and play in bigger leagues,” he added. “In America, he is going to play against the likes of Lionel Messi. That alone would mean the world will be watching him.”