John Terry lauds Bafana Bafana star Mbekezeli Mbokazi's mentality Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry praised South Africa and Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, calling him a potential future star in world football. The 20-year-old is expected to start at centre-back for Bafana Bafana in the FIFA World Cup opener against Mexico, a match Terry predicted would end 1-1. South Africa head coach Hugo Broos compared Mbokazi’s attributes to those of former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, who Broos gave his debut at Anderlecht. Terry, a former Premier League defender, has since become an admirer of Mbokazi, highlighting his “top, top player” status and “positive mentality.” Mbokazi’s rise to prominence includes a standout performance for Bafana Bafana at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. During the tournament, he delivered a commanding display in a 1-0 group stage defeat to Egypt, where he won all eight of his ground duels against Mohamed Salah, a former Chelsea teammate of Terry. Despite a controversial penalty awarded to Egypt, Mbokazi’s resilience and composure under pressure earned praise. The match, held on Boxing Day, marked a key moment in his international career. After joining Chicago Fire from Orlando Pirates, Mbokazi has excelled in Major League Soccer (MLS), becoming the second South African to be selected for the MLS All-Star team. He is the first to make the team as a starter, joining legends like Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min. The All-Star game will take place in Charlotte on July 29, with Mbokazi and other top players competing against Mexico’s Liga MX representatives. Broos initially criticized Mbokazi’s move to MLS, arguing he should have stayed in Europe.#africa_cup_of_nations #bafana_bafana #chicago_fire #john_terry #mbekezeli_mbokazi
