{"id":1216,"date":"2026-01-25T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goalmzansi.com\/?p=1216"},"modified":"2026-01-28T11:12:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T09:12:57","slug":"mbokazi-blow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goalmzansi.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/25\/mbokazi-blow\/","title":{"rendered":"Mbokazi blow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orlando Pirates&#8217; head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes the departure of Mbekezeli Mbokazi to Chicago Fire won&#8217;t have a negative impact on his team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This comes after the Buccaneers resumed their 2025\/26 Betway Premiership campaign with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Sekhukhune United in Saturday&#8217;s encounter at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mbokazi had established himself as an inspirational captain and consistent performer&nbsp;for Bucs.&nbsp;The 20-year-old defender has since moved to MLS side Fire which saw Ouaddou deploy Nkosinathi Sibisi, and Lebone Seema as his two centre backs against Sekhukhune.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes you know there were many questions around the departure of Mbokazi,&#8221; Ouaddou told Goal Mzansi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;But you know we have a fantastic group, we have good defenders and the guys [Seema and Sibisi] did well today and our philosophy is not counting on one player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen we\u2019re strong defensively, when we have clean sheets it\u2019s due to the collective, not only one player. Of course he was important but I\u2019m sure the guys will do a fantastic job, you can see, they proved it today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pirates will be looking to reclaim the Betway Premiership&#8217;s top spot when they host Magesi FC at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday, August 31.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ouaddou insists Mbokazi&#8217;s departure not massive blow for Pirates<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1217,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[100,55,56],"class_list":["post-1216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","tag-abdeslam-ouaddou","tag-betway-premiership","tag-orlando-pirates"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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