Broos slams Mbokazi’s late arrival for camp and move to US

Bafana Bafana head coach, Hugo Broos, has criticised Mbekezeli Mbokazi for missing his flight to join the national team camp ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.

Mbokazi was expected to arrive at the camp in Pretoria on Tuesday but only arrived on Wednesday afternoon. The delay came after the Pirates players were given an extra day to rest following their Carling Knockout Cup final victory over Marumo Gallants in Polokwane, with the Bafana camp having started on Monday.

“I am not pleased with what he did,” said Broos. “He let us know he missed his flight from Durban yesterday.”

Mbokazi reportedly returned home to KwaZulu-Natal after the CKO final.

“It was the coach of Pirates (Abdeslam Ouaddou) Ouaddou who informed me,” added Broos. “He (Ouaddou) was very angry that he missed his flight. These were his (Ouaddou’s) words – ‘unprofessional attitude’.”

Mbokazi only arrived at camp around 15:30 on Wednesday afternoon, where he shook hands with a visibly irate Broos, who promised a stern conversation and added that Pirates had attempted to protect Mbokazi’s actions.

“I have already spoken about players with an unprofessional attitude. Then Pirates sent me a nonsense message. I will not tell you what it was but it was nonsense. It is worse that the club protects the player,” Broos said.

“This is very bad. You are a 20 year-old guy and you have been called up to play in the AFCON and in the World Cup next year. We give you a few extra days off … (but) if someone has a good attitude they don’t want the days off and are here on Monday.”

Mbokazi’s rapid rise has seen him secure a high-profile move to Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer, which he will join after the AFCON finals.

“What is he going to do in Chicago?,” Broos said.

“They are not even a top team in America. But I know what happened. A nice little woman who is his agent and thinks she knows football is doing what many agents are doing now. They are saying ‘How much (money) can I get?’ If they were clever they would know it is the AFCON and World Cup and other teams are better. What will he (Mbokazi) do in a big city like that? No, I don’t think it is a good choice,” he added.

Written by: Ntsako Mukhari