Broos knew it: Mbokazi’s performance against Egypt's Salah proved his point
Mbekezeli Mbokazi showed once again that he is a special talent when he kept Mohamed Salah quiet during Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations match against Egypt on Friday.
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Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos feels vindicated about his criticism of Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s move to Chicago Fire after the young defender put in another impressive performance for the national team.
Despite South Africa going down 1-0 to Egypt in their Africa Cup of Nations clash on Friday, Mbokazi looked solid at the back, and handled the pressure of playing against world-class forwards Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush brilliantly.
Before the tournament kicked off, the player completed a move from Orlando Pirates to Chicago Fire, and Broos was not impressed, and questioned whether it was smart making the move before playing on the world stage, where he could attract bigger suitors.
“There were some angry people when I said a few weeks ago that it was not the best choice for him, you saw why,” the Belgian said according to iDiskiTimes, referencing Mbokazi’s performance against the Egyptians.
“He was my man of the match, the way that guy played.
“One thing in my mind, still from the second half, there was a deep ball to Salah, and he went in for the duel, Salah had no chance, no chance and that shows the quality of Mbokazi.
“You now understand why I’d be very angry if he ruins his career. This is a guy who can have a very big career, a very big career.”
Broos will be hoping for another top showing from the 20-year-old when Bafana Bafana take on Zimbabwe on Monday. While they will be going for the win, a draw will be good enough to see them book their place in the next round of the tournament.
Finishing second in Group B means they will likely face one of Ivory Coast or Cameroon in the Round of 16.
For Mbokazi, Monday’s clash against Zimbabwe is another opportunity to underline why his coach speaks so passionately about his potential. Having already passed a stern examination against Salah and Marmoush, the young defender has shown he belongs at this level, and perhaps even higher.
Whether Broos’ concerns about his club move prove prophetic or overly cautious, one thing is becoming clear: Bafana Bafana may have unearthed a defensive cornerstone for years to come.
IOL Sport