Fire Coach Reacts To Season-Long Mbokazi Injury
Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter has confirmed that Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi will miss the rest of the season with a thigh tear.
Chicago Fire coach Gregg Berhalter has confirmed that Mbekezeli Mbokazi has been ruled out for the rest of the season, revealing that the side are working on the next player to step up.
Last month, the 20-year-old was initially unavailable for the Fire’s 3-1 defeat to New York City FC, with the head coach then confirming after the game that the injury was more serious than first feared.
Now, it has been confirmed that the defender will be out for the rest of the season after sustaining a thigh tear.
“He took a shot in training, scuffed the ground and got a tear in his thigh,” Berhalter revealed at the time.
Ahead of their 2-0 victory over Club Necaxa in a Leagues Cup encounter on Friday, the tactician emphasised the importance of adapting without the South African.
“Mbo being out for the year is a tough one,” Berhalter told Apple TV, per MLS Soccer. “It’s really about the next person stepping up and being a team that’s hard to score on. Closing the spaces, being compact.
“We’re working on that now, and I think today you’re going to see that.”
It represents a significant setback for the centre-back, who made an impression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, announcing himself on the biggest stage in the world.
He helped Bafana Bafana to a historic Round of 32 finish, where they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to co-hosts Canada.
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With the 20-year-old now forced to watch his team from the sidelines for the remainder of the season, he will be looking to rebuild that momentum when he eventually makes his return to the pitch.
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