Mbekezeli Mbokazi receives great support from Gavin Lane! | OneFootball

Mbekezeli Mbokazi receives great support from Gavin Lane!

It’s a trajectory so steep it defies the usual conventions of a footballing career. In the space of a mere seven months, Mbekezeli Mbokazi has journeyed from his professional debut to a continental nomination, capturing the imagination of fans and earning the admiring gaze of a club legend.

The Orlando Pirates defender, a mere 20 years old, finds himself in the running for the CAF Young Player of the Year award—a dizzying height for a player who, not long ago, was navigating the academy pathways. His ascent has been nothing short of meteoric.

Since that first senior appearance in March 2025, a solid 1-0 victory, Mbokazi has played with a wisdom that belies his years. A left-footed centre-back from Hluhluwe, his game is characterised by a profound calmness and technical maturity. This innate leadership quality saw him not only captain South Africa's U-20 side to COSAFA glory but also to wear the armband for the Buccaneers themselves.

His influence has been tangible. At club level, he was a cornerstone of a squad that secured a second-place league finish and embarked on a thrilling run to the Champions League semi-finals. On the international stage, he seamlessly transitioned to the senior Bafana Bafana team, where his commanding performance against the mighty Nigeria sent a clear message to the world and prompted his national coach to publicly advocate for a European move.

With the AFCON tournament in Morocco on the horizon, the football world is taking notice. Among those watching is Pirates legend Gavin Lane, who, while overflowing with praise for the youngster’s talent and physicality, offered a piece of quintessential, hard-earned wisdom. His advice was a caution against the intoxicating effects of early fame: "Don’t go out and think now you’ve made Bafana and all that and get a big head."

For Mbokazi, it seems the sky is the limit, provided he keeps his feet firmly on the ground.