Former Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi has received glowing praise from Gregg Berhalter following his first appearance for Chicago Fire FC.
The 20-year-old centre-back joined the Major League Soccer outfit from the Buccaneers last year, shortly before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December. After linking up with the squad for pre-season, Mbokazi has wasted little time making an impression.
Strong First Outing
Mbokazi featured in Chicago’s pre-season clash against LA Galaxy on Sunday, a thrilling encounter that ended 3-2 in favour of the Fire.
Speaking after the match, Berhalter was full of praise for the young defender’s performance.
“I thought he did well,” Berhalter said.
“He was very good in the duels, had some good build-up play, and overall delivered a strong performance.”
The towering defender’s composure and physical presence were evident, particularly in one-on-one battles and during Chicago’s build-up from the back.
South African Influence Growing
Mbokazi is not the only South African talent in the Chicago squad. Former TS Galaxy midfielder Puso Dithejane has also joined the MLS side and has similarly impressed the coaching staff.
Berhalter has already highlighted Dithejane as a key addition as the club looks to assemble a competitive roster ahead of the new campaign.
Eyes on the 2026 MLS Season
The 2026 MLS regular season is set to kick off on Saturday, 21 February, with Mbokazi and Dithejane aiming to establish themselves in American football.
For Mbokazi, the move represents a major step in his career following his rise at Pirates. If his pre-season display is anything to go by, Chicago Fire supporters may have found a promising long-term defensive leader.