PSL clubs queuing for next Mbokazi at academy
Rugby
Podcasts & Videos
The Club House
Win
–>
Photo by Zamani Makautsi/Gallo Images
Home
Psl
Premiership
PSL clubs queuing for next Mbokazi at academy
Aug 16, 2026 – 09:59 am
By Thato Bosoga
Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s breakthrough has opened doors for Langalibalele Sports Academy players, who have been signing with big teams in the PSL after his success, KickOff can reveal.
Mbokazi was signed into the Orlando Pirates reserve side ahead of the 2023/24 season as an 18-year old prospect and needed only one campaign to be promoted to the first team.
The left-footed defender, who hails from Hluhluwe in KwaZulu-Natal, eventually made his debut for the Pirates senior side in mid December 2024 in a 1-0 defeat against Sekhukhune United, playing 90 minutes under former coach Jose Riveiro.
However, it was not until March 2025 that Mbokazi got another opportunity and he immediately started to become a regular, with his performances also culminating into The Buccaneers reaching the CAF Champions League semi-finals.
Riveiro’s successor Abdeslam Ouaddou thrust the then 19-year-old into the spotlight after making him one of the captains and Mbokazi’s trajectory also led to Bafana Bafana call-ups and an impressive start to the 2025/26 season, where by December 2025, Pirates had already agreed to sell him to United States side Chicago Fire.
‘TLB”s former academy coach and founder at Langalibalele Sports Academy, Wonder Mnguni, has revealed to KickOff that The Fire centre-back is the first player from their development setup to turn professional.
“Before him, no, he was the first one to go to a professional team from our academy, others came after him,” Mnguni said.
READ | Mbokazi’s coach on World Cup moment: ‘Tears were all over my eyes’
“But he was not the first player we recommended, before him we did recommend ‘Ox’ (Sibongiseni) Mthethwa to Uthongathi but unfortunately they (were not interested) and he was taken by Black Leopards.”
Since Mbokazi’s breakthrough, the following players from Langalibalele Sports Academy, among others, have since been signed by PSL clubs, Ntando Ngcobo (Orlando Pirates DDC), Banele Mnguni (Polokwane City DDC), Nkosinathi Thwala (Kruger United DDC), Avele Tenza (Mamelodi Sundowns DDC), Ndalo Mbatha (Durban City DDC), Ntuthuko Mshengu (Orbit College), Nkululeko Shezi (Milford DDC).