The missed opportunity for Mbekezeli Mbokazi at the U20 World Cup

ORLANDO Pirates’ overreliance on the young Mbekezeli Mbokazi is a sad story to witness as it is robbing the player of a lot of experiences that were going to be vital for his development into an international superstar.

Yesterday morning, it was sad to witness that the young centre back’s name is missing from the squad that is going to fly the South African flag at the Under 20 Fifa World Cup to be played in Chile.

The showpiece will be played between September 27 and October 20, while Pirates will be playing only the preliminary rounds of the Caf Champions League.

It is only the second time that South African men will be participating in this event, after the 2009 legion which was led by Serame Letsoaka in Egypt. 

In that tournament South Africa was represented by players such as Andile Jali, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Ramahlwe Mphahlele and others.

Nations like Ghana, who were crowned champions, had stars like Andre Ayew, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and Ransford Osei among others who went to have long and successful careers abroad.

Brazil had the likes of Douglas Costa and England had a young Kieran Trippier- players who went on to represent their countries in senior World Cups and enjoyed long careers in the big leagues of Europe.

And so to go and rub shoulders with other future international stars for a rising star like Mbokazi, it would have given him a taste of international events and went a long way to influencing his football brain and level of professionalism.

It was sad to witness his name missing from the U20 World Cup-bound squad, but it was not a surprise.

After all, Raymond Mdaka’s boys did qualifying duty last year without the talented 19-year-old from Zululand.

Last season Pirates may have, to a certain extent, been justified to refuse with him to join the U20 in their Africa Cup of Nations as they were engaged in the penultimate stages of the Caf Champions League, and within a chance of wrestling the league from Mamelodi Sundowns.

Okay fine, we can give them that, even though they went on to fluff away at both trophies. 

Pirates have so far done a good job with Mbokazi but as he quickly becomes a national asset, it would serve both the player and the national team well if they can just be a little understanding that there is more growth waiting for him out there.

With his latest performances for Bafana Bafana, it is safe to say only an injury would rule him out of coach Hugo Broos’ 2026 Fifa World Cup-bound squad.

The U20 World Cup would’ve gone a long way to prepare him for that.