Orlando Pirates DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) coach Joseph Makhanya has revealed the events that led to the signing of Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise since making his first team debut for the Soweto giants in March 2025.

The Hluhluwe-born defender joined the Buccaneers’ reserve team in August 2023, where he made an instant impact. Following reliable performances at the heart of defense, the young center-back was rewarded with the captain’s armband.

It didn’t take long before Mbokazi caught the eye of first team coach Jose Riveiro and was subsequently included in matchday squads after impressing in training. The teenager made his Pirates senior team debut last month against Chippa United in a 1-0 win in the Betway Premiership.

Since then, the 19-year-old has taken his appearance tally to six, with one goal in all competitions this season. Mbokazi also featured at the highest level of African football in the CAF Champions League, where he played a full match in the first leg of the quarterfinals clash against MC Alger in Algiers.

In the wake of the youngster’s rise, the Bucs legend detailed how a friendly tournament in Durban prompted the Sea Robbers to acquire his services. In addition, Makhanya attributed the transfer of Samukele Kabini from Pirates to the TS Galaxy.

“If you check how we got Mbekezeli Mbokazi, there’s a coach who recommend Mbekezeli after Mbekezeli was seen playing in a friendly tournament in Durban. At that time, we had lost Samukele Kabini, who recently went (to join Molde FK) in Norway because he also came through our ranks as well after being recruited by coach Mandla Qhogi,” Makhanya told SuperSport TV.

Moreover, Makhanya recalled how Mbokazi initially struggled to cope with professional football’s tactical terminologies. However, despite a slow start, the 43-year-old tactician says the player had a great understanding of the game to make up for his lack of tactical understanding.

“I remember when we got him [Mbokazi], the only language that he understood was IsiZulu. He used to sit on the chair, and we discussed a bit of tactics with him alone because with the team, you will see you’re talking about tactics, but now he doesn’t understand anything,” he added.

“But he understood the game very well because if you are to check, he’s a very arrogant player in terms resonating his defending, arrogant in possession. He doesn’t just pass the ball forward; he passes it to a player.

“So, now that tells you that he knows what type of a player is needed in our first team. It also tells you that the recruitment policy is also on point in terms of the type of players that we recruit because we’ve also become the facilitators as coaches. After all, we know the kind of players we are trying to produce for the first team.”