Protect Him at All Costs’ — Vilakazi on Bafana’s Roberto Carlos-Like Defender
South African football great Benedict Vilakazi has delivered glowing praise for a rising star he believes is cut from truly elite cloth — Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
Mbokazi’s rise has been nothing short of explosive. In just 39 senior appearances for Orlando Pirates, the commanding defender showcased a rare blend of power, composure and tactical intelligence — qualities that have already secured him a marquee move to Chicago Fire. Beyond club football, he has rapidly become indispensable to Bafana Bafana.
That growing authority was evident in South Africa’s 2–1 AFCON victory over Angola, where Mbokazi dominated defensively and nearly crowned his display with a sensational long-range effort that rattled the crossbar.
It was that moment which sparked Vilakazi’s eye-catching comparison.
“He is a boss,” Vilakazi said. “He’s even more mature than Siyabonga Ngezana in how he organises and covers the defence. And that shot — tell me, in today’s game, which defender hits the ball like that? The last time I saw something similar was Roberto Carlos. Honestly, I can’t remember a centre-back with that kind of power and technique.”
For Vilakazi, Mbokazi’s value to the national team is now non-negotiable.
“This young man is becoming something special,” he added. “He must be protected from injury at all costs. If anything happened to him — and to leaders like Teboho Mokoena or Ronwen Williams — it would be a disaster. That’s how important he already is.”
From Soweto to MLS and the AFCON stage, Mbokazi’s trajectory suggests South Africa may be witnessing the emergence of a once-in-a-generation defender — one already being spoken of in the same breath as football’s most iconic full-backs.