SHOWING the progress of Mbekezeli “TLB” Mbokazi in his team in the United States of America (USA), Chicago Fire, is good news for the Bafana Bafana national team as the 2026 Fifa World Cup in Mome unfolds.
Mbokazi, who started his seventh game in the Chicago scheme this season, scored a highlight in this game this time back, beating the fire with his eyes closed and coming at Atlanta United looking for an equalizing goal, and ended up winning 1-0 as Chicago defeated Atlanta in the Major Soccer Leaue (MLS) on Sunday, at Soccer Field, Chicago.
His outstanding scoring earned him the award for being the best player – Man of the Match – in this game in which Chicago showed to intensify the competition for the title of the league in the Eastern Conferernce of MLS between it and Nashville SC.
Chicago is currently in second place in the Eastern Conference log with 13 points from seven games, behind Nashville SC who are on top with 16 from the same games.
Chicago will play Detroit City in the US Open Cup playoff game on Wednesday, then return to league action against Cincinnati on Sunday.
This top defender who joined the Men in Red in January from Orlando Pirates, there is no question that his form is like honey for the coach of the national team, Bafana Bafana, Hugo Broos, as we are the key players in this team that is preparing to host the FIFA World Cup that will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico, from June 11 to July 19.
In the recent friendly match that Bafana played against Panama, they lost 2-1, Mbokazi scored the goal with a shot from outside the box.
Mbokazi is doing well in this USA team, Broos was complaining about his playing in this USA league, which he considers to be a substandard league according to the level of football leagues in the world.
However, slowly, little by little, the Belgian coach started to doubt the quality of the MLS as Mbokazi continues to do well.
And recently he also called striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane, who also plays in this league for Minnesota United, in the match between Bafana and Panama.
Bafana, who were drawn in Group A of the World Cup with South Korea, Mexico and the Czech Republic, will open against Mexico on June 11, at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.