South Africa: Benni McCarthy backs defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi to shine in MLS

Former South Africa striker Benni McCarthy has thrown his support behind rising star Mbekezeli Mbokazi, expressing confidence that the youngster’s move to Major League Soccer will accelerate his development and strengthen Bafana Bafana ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mbokazi recently completed a transfer from Orlando Pirates to Chicago Fire FC, a switch widely viewed as a major milestone in his burgeoning career.

The defender is also expected to feature prominently in Hugo Broos’ squad for the World Cup, where South Africa have been drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea and the Czech Republic.

McCarthy, South Africa’s all-time leading scorer with 31 international goals, believes the move presents the perfect platform for Mbokazi to grow into a key figure for both club and country.

“TLB has been excelling since he rose at Pirates. Now he has got to go to America and try to do the same as what he’s done at Pirates, become established, a leader, a starting player, a cult figure for his team,” McCarthy told KickOff.

McCarthy, now head coach of the Kenya national team, added that consistent performances abroad would ultimately benefit the national side.

“The more Mbokazi plays well and does well and the more South Africa has players in high-quality leagues, the better Bafana Bafana will be,” he said.

McCarthy also stressed the wider importance of international experience in raising the overall standard of South African football.

“As a player, playing abroad only helps us here in South Africa,” he said. “The experience you gain from playing against the best players, in the best leagues, against the best teams and coaches makes your knowledge powerful. And when you come back to the national team, you raise the standards.”

With Mbokazi now beginning his MLS journey, expectations are growing that his progress could become a crucial factor in South Africa’s ambitions on the road to the 2026 World Cup.