WATCH | Mbokazi’s AFCON no-show sparks Broos fury

Bafana Bafana

Cape Town – Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has criticised 20-year-old Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi for missing his flight to join the national team camp ahead of AFCON.

He called the player’s behaviour “unprofessional” and also blamed his agent, Basia Michaels, for prioritising a lucrative move to MLS side Chicago Fire over national duty.

Mbokazi led Orlando Pirates to victory in the Carling Black Label Knockout at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday, marking his final game for the club.

He was expected to fly to Johannesburg on Monday to join the Bafana Bafana camp at the TUKS High Performance Centre in Tshwane but missed his flight, arriving a day late on Tuesday.

“I am very angry; very angry with this attitude,” Broos said.

“Suddenly, he is a star. He thinks he is a star. He thinks he has arrived.

“The coach of Pirates informed me and he was very angry that he missed his flight. That’s an unprofessional attitude and I think I have spoken to you before about the unprofessional attitude of South African players. It’s really nonsense that he missed his flight.

“That is the worst thing from the player; a very unprofessional attitude. This is very bad when you are a 19-year-old guy who is still to grow up and play at Afcon and play at the World Cup.”

Broos questioned the wisdom of the move, saying Chicago Fire is not a top team and that Mbokazi seems to have let fame and money influence his decisions.

He emphasised that young players should respect national team schedules and maintain a professional attitude.

Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram

Picture: Screengrab

For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com

Compiled by Betha Madhomu

Article written by