Mbekezeli Mbokazi
South African soccer player (born 2005)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mbekezeli Mfanufikile Mbokazi also known as TLB (born 19 September 2005) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire and the South Africa national team.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mbekezeli Mfanufikile Mbokazi | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 19 September 2005 | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||
| Position | Defender | |||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||
Current team | Chicago Fire | |||||||||||||
| Number | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||
| – | Makhasa F.C. | |||||||||||||
| –2023 | Langalibalele Academy | |||||||||||||
| 2024 | Orlando Pirates DDC | |||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 2025 | Orlando Pirates | 23 | (2) | |||||||||||
| 2026– | Chicago Fire | 12 | (0) | |||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | South Africa U20 | 5 | (1) | |||||||||||
| 2025– | South Africa | 10 | (1) | |||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 January 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 1 April 2026 | ||||||||||||||
Club career
Orlando Pirates
He captained the Pirates DDC team in the PSL Reserve in 2024.[1]
Mbokazi made his Orlando Pirates senior debut on 5 March 2025 in a 1–0 win over Chippa United.[2] He won his first man of the match award with Pirates against Mamelodi Sundowns with him credited for a great defensive showing on 16 March 2025.[3]
He captained the team in a pre-season friendly against Pafos F.C. from Spain at just 19 years-old and become the youngest captain for the Buccaneers after Mbulelo Mabizela at 21 years-old in the 2002/03 season.[4] He was made vice-captain in the 2025/26 season.[5] Mbokazi made his continental debut in the 2025–26 CAF Champions League when he captained the side in a 3–0 win against Lioli from Lesotho. In the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup, he scored the winner in the round of 16 match against Siwelele to send the club into the quarterfinals.[6] He later won the October 2025 goal of month for his strike.[7] He ended his stay at Pirates by captaining the club in their 2025 Carling Knockout Cup win against Marumo Gallants in the final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on 6 December 2025 and won his second trophy with the club after their 2025 MTN 8 triumph earlier in the season.[8][9]
He was nominated for the young player of the year award at the 2025 CAF awards.[10]
Chicago Fire
In December 2025, he was signed to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire FC with the deal running until 2029 with a club option for the 2029-30 season.[11][12]
Youth international career
Mbokazi was selected for 2024 COSAFA U-20 Cup with the South Africa national under-20 soccer team that won the tournament and qualified for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.[13][14] He played all matches in the tournament and scored the fifth goal in a 5-0 win over Malawi.[15]
International career
In May 2025, Mbokazi got his first Senior International call-up for the two friendly games against Tanzania and Mozambique, where he ultimately made his debut in a 2–0 win against Mozambique.[16] He was called up again for the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria in September 2025. He played both games and ultimately had a man of the match performance in the 1-all draw against Nigeria.[17]
On 1 December 2025, Mbokazi was called up to the South Africa squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.[18] He scored his maiden international goal in a 2–1 loss to Panama on 31 March 2026.[19] He was also included in South Africa's preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup.[20]
International goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 31 March 2026 | Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa |  Panama | 1–1 | 1–2 | Friendly |
Honours
South Africa
Orlando Pirates