Gcaba Warns Mbokazi To Avoid ‘Slay Queens’
Former Orlando Pirates defender Ayanda Gcaba has a warning for rising star Mbekezeli Mbokazi: avoid the temptations of alcohol and “sly queens” who will swarm him like bees now that his career is taking off.
Mbokazi was exceptional in the recent Bafana Bafana matches, where the team beat Lesotho and drew with Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The young defender made a crucial tackle to deny CAF African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, a clear goal-scoring opportunity against Nigeria.
At just 19 years old, Mbokazi appears unfazed by the pressure. He audaciously made a run from his own half into the midfield, though his shot on goal lacked the accuracy to trouble Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
Gcaba, who won four trophies with the Buccaneers, including the second treble in the 2011/12 season, emphasized that Mbokazi must avoid bad influences at all costs.
“For me, it’s hanging out with the wrong crowd,” Gcaba told Sportswire.
“Where he is, he will get people who will just enjoy being with you. They will enjoy the limelight because they will attract people, and there will be other people who will say, ‘I’m happy to see this person because I can be inspired; I wish I can be something like him in the future.’”
Gcaba, who played 117 matches for Pirates and scored seven goals, continued his warning to the young player.
“There will be slay queens, alcohol, and going out—if he can avoid those things, he can go far. Because if you can handle those things, you can stay long, you will play football with no stress. I don’t want to lie, some journalists can take you up and bring you down very fast. That will depend on how social you are outside. Are you doing the right things? If not, it is obviously going to come back and haunt you and give you bad publicity. That means your name and reputation will be tarnished.”
Mbokazi’s rise has been meteoric. Promoted from the academy in March last season, he was named Pirates’ vice-captain during the off-season, with Nkosinathi Sibisi taking over the captain’s armband from Innocent Maela.
After Sibisi suffered an injury in the second game of the season, Mbokazi stepped up to lead the team, helping the Buccaneers beat Sundowns in the two-legged MTN8 semifinals.
Pirates will face Stellenbosch in the MTN8 final at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
Gcaba, 39, who also won the MTN8 with Pirates, added that Mbokazi must remain humble because he is now an inspiration to the other young players in the Pirates development program.
“I wish he can be more level-headed,” said Gcaba.
“Not rush things. He should not take pressure from anyone. Any good advice that he can get, he should take it, and it will be up to him as a person how he takes that on. Because right now, he has been given a huge responsibility to captain the team at his age. I was like, ‘This is a great thing for him, a great thing for the team,’ and also for the upcoming players. Players who are in development are saying, ‘This guy, we were with him in development, and he is now a regular in the first team. That means our chances of playing are big. It is up to us how hard we work to reach there.’”
“Because he did the same thing; he was not lazy, but he worked hard to reach that level. He has to be humble, work hard for himself, and for his teammates.”
