Orlando Pirates coach discloses one player Jose Riveiro wanted at Al Ahly

Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has opened up about one player that was wanted by former coach Jose Riveiro at Al Ahly.

Riveiro has since left Al Ahly, having lasted just three months in the job, before he was sacked after a poor start to the season with the Egyptian giants.

However, a South African player would have remained at the club had the Spanish coach had his way as he was keen on signing one key star from the Soweto giants.

According to Ncikazi, Riveiro wanted to bring defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi to Cairo after the youngster impressed in his debut season in the PSL.

Why did Riveiro want Mbokazi at Al Ahly?

Mbokazi, still just 19, has shown remarkable maturity not just in his performances but his leadership that saw him named one of Pirates’ vice captains.

“There’s a good thing that can’t be claimed by one person in our club, there’s a scouting department that’s doing a good job,” Ncikazi said on Ukhozi FM as quoted by iDiski Times.

“When you look at the TLB, Mbokazi. It’s scaring to see such a young boy at that age, who’s at that level now.

“Everyone is commending him, Jose wanted him in Egypt. And also, we had a meeting with the Bafana coach Hugo Broos, he says this boy has to go play in Europe.”

Broos showered TLB with praise

The left-footed defender continues to impress and has become undroppable both for club and country with Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos full of praise for the centre-back during this month’s World Cup qualifiers.

“He’s confident, he’s strong, he has a good technique. He plays without fear and this is special for a young player and I was curious when he came with us in March,” Broos said ahead of the matches against Lesotho and Nigeria.  

“You see him playing with the team those friendly games, I was assured when I saw him playing. This was for me the proof that he’s a very good player, a very good defender, and a very young one.”

Pirates coach lauds club’s youth policy

Meanwhile, Ncikazi has lauded Pirates for doing a good job when it comes to unearthing young players at the club following the coming to prominence of Mbokazi, Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota among others.

“It’s been a while since we had such a special talent at that age. But then we have a lot of talent at Pirates, the likes of [Simphiwe] Selepe that you haven’t seen this season, [Relebohile] Mofokeng who was also identified in a different way,” added Ncikazi.

“Our club is doing an unusual, maybe other clubs will also learn. We got [Lebone] Seema where he was not even playing as a regular but look at where he is now, you can see our scouts have a sharp eye in identifying a talent that can fit into the team.”