Will Mbokazi play in MLS’ DDC equivalent? Chicago Fire insider clarifies

A Chicago Fire insider has responded to comments made by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos over the career prospects of defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi.

Broos did not hide his disapproval of Mbokazi’s move to MLS club Chicago Fire, saying it was ill-advised, while slamming the player’s agent for allegedly being driven by money, comments that have divided opinion.

According to Broos, Mbokazi should have stayed patient and waited for a club from Europe especially with the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup on the horizon and not rushed into a move to America as it ‘does not represent a major step-up.’

The Bafana boss went on to claim that he has information that Mbokazi will not even start off in the MLS but will instead be sent to the Chicago second-string team, the equivalent of the Diski Challenge in South Africa, when he lands in America.

Chicago insider responds to Broos

However, Chicago Fire insider Alex Calabrese has dismissed this assertion, saying Mbokazi is on the right path as there are lots of players who have followed the same route and ended up with successful careers in Europe.  

“The number of players who have gone from the MLS to Europe, and specifically from Chicago, is pretty big so in terms of long-term career decision from my perspective it is quite a good one,” Calabrese said on SoccerBeat.

“I think the pathway has been done before. It has been shown before that if he comes here for two, three years, it can benefit his game a lot especially because MLS is a very attacking league so can be good for defenders who are developing.

“We have seen that in some American centre-backs but I think any implications like a horrible career move that he [Broos] had to go out on national media and say that it is a horrible decision for his career, attacking his agent in a way that made no sense to me, that is tough and I was surprised to see that.”