Ouaddou backs Mbokazi’s MLS move as Orlando Pirates celebrate defender’s rise

ABDESLAM  OUADDOU, the coach of Orlando Pirates, was celebrating Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s growth instead of lamenting the loss of an influential player in his squad.

On the night when the young centre back played his final match for the Buccaneers by lifting the Carling Knockout trophy following a one–nil extra-time victory over Marumo Gallants, many were wondering just how Ouaddou was going to ‘replace’ the lad from Hluhluwe in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mbokazi has been snapped up by American Major League Soccer franchise Chicago Fire and will be making the move to the US, after the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations finals in late January. But, having played the game himself, the Moroccan coach is only too pleased to see one of his players making the step up.

“I cannot say he is a loss,” Ouaddou said, deep in the bowels of the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

“We have to think of the evolution of players. Of course, Pirates is one of the big clubs in Africa and every coach wants to have their best player to compete. But it (player movement) is the ecosystem of football.”

Ouaddou can personally relate to Mbokazi’s situation.

“I was in his position at Nancy when I was 22-years old. I was developed for four years there but the opportunity to go to Fulham in the English Premiership came and I took it. I want to wish him good luck.

“I told him he needs to put the team first and win the trophy. Mbokazi will do well in the MLS. It is normal evolution.

"He is going away and we hope he will improve and never forget Pirates and the national team. He should not stop developing.”

Having worked with the defender who only made his professional debut in March, Ouaddou is best placed to give an assessment of Mbokazi.

“The way that we are playing with a high block and counter-pressing, attacking football that takes risks, it is important to have a central defender with pace because you leave space at the back and the opposition teams play in transition. He does a fantastic job when the opponents play the ball into space and he wins the duels.

"He is comfortable with his feet and when we want to build and cross the lines with passes, he is able to play short and long. He is strong on his feet and good in the air. He has a good future.”

Ouaddou believes Mbokazi will only get better from going to a different environment. He believes the youngster, who was honoured with the Pirates captaincy alongside Nkosinathi Sibisi, has some way to go as a leader.

“In the US they will improve him in terms of leadership and his communication needs to get better. As captain in the heart of the central defence you need to command and take the lead because you have the game in front of you and you are seeing everything. We expect him to improve that area.”

He did pretty well in that regard on Saturday night though as he cajoled his teammates from the onset, read the game well enough to intercept the Gallants’ attacks and was superb in the one-on-one duels with Phillip Ndlondlo, whom he pocketed throughout the match.

He was pretty vocal too, to the extent of even challenging referee Akhona Makalima for decisions he felt were not right.

Such has been Mbokazi’s meteoric rise — from being a DDC player at the beginning of the year, through making his debut in March, then captaining Pirates and being a key member of Bafana Bafana, to now moving to the MLS — that many will wonder just how he will cope with it all. After all, many before him have struggled to deal with the rapid success.

Those who have worked closely with him have claimed that Mbokazi has a good head on his shoulders.

No doubt Pirates fans and all South African soccer followers hope that is the case. We have had far too many tales of promising youngsters failing to cope with the kind of instant success Mbokazi is enjoying.