Former Bafana Bafana international Matthew Booth don yarn say the new defensive pairing of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Ime Okon na di real deal for South Africa as dem dey prepare for World Cup knockout.
Booth, wey don play for Mamelodi Sundowns before, believe say coach Hugo Broos don finally find di perfect balance for di heart of di backline.
Mbokazi, wey dey play for MLS side Chicago Fire, don shine for Bafana since Broos give am international debut for May 2025.
Di young defender don help Chicago Fire sit third for Eastern Conference after 14 games.
Broos don praise Mbokazi well well, saying: “Mbokazi is a very good player, and he is young, he is making progress. When I see him now and I saw him a year ago, I think that he is becoming better and better.”
Broos add say: “He is not only a good player, but he can be a leader later. Everyone saw it in the games that he has played with us; he is quick, he is good at passing, and he is strong.”
Di coach also talk about di partnership with Okon: “With him next to him, two young players, I think that the future of Bafana Bafana for central defenders is secured.”
Ime Okon, di other centre-back, also give praise to di whole defence. According to Okon: “We work together in training, so the more we train together, the better understanding that we have of each other. It is not only us, though, but it is also the whole defence, the guys in front of us, the skipper behind us.”
Bafana Bafana don reach di knockout stage for di first time for World Cup history, after dem jump from bottom of Group A to second place with a 1-0 win over South Korea.
Di team go face co-hosts Canada for Los Angeles for di round of 32.
Meanwhile, reports say Mbokazi dey wanted by Premier League side Nottingham Forest. Di defender move to Chicago Fire from Orlando Pirates for January dis year, and many see am as a stepping stone.
Former Orlando Pirates teammate Relebohile Mofokeng, wey also shine for Bafana, dey rumoured to be target for German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
Mofokeng mama don talk say her son must leave Orlando Pirates ASAP.
