With Mbekezeli Mbokazi gone, Orlando Pirates target Thabo Moloisane to strengthen defense
Soweto giants Orlando Pirates have reportedly identified Stellenbosch FC's Thabo Moloisane as the perfect signing to replace Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
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Orlando Pirates have reportedly identified the perfect player to plug their defense following Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s departure from the club.
The 20-year-old Mbokazi will move to the United States to join Chicago Fire after the Africa Cup of Nations, presenting the league-leading Sea Robbers a major problem as they look to break Mamelodi Sundowns’ eight-year stranglehold on the league title.
According to Soccer Laduma, the player they want to fill that hole is Stellenbosch FC’s Thabo Moloisane, a player they’ve had their eye on for some time.
Stellies head coach Steve Barker admitted earlier this season that the Cape Winelands club would struggle to hold on to one of the top defenders in the Betway Premiership.
“I still think Thabo is in his last year,” Barker was quoted by Soccer Laduma.
“You know, it’s not like he wants to be leaving. He actually would like to continue. So, I think it’s something that we are working on. But I think of him as a person and a character, I just have respect for a player that might be leaving and still putting in the shifts that he has, and has played in every single game and every single minute.
“For me, he should have been the Defender of the Season last year,” said Barker.
Convincing the 26-year-old Moloisane to ditch the Western Cape for Gauteng might prove to be a challenge for Pirates as he made his feelings known after playing his 100th game for Stellenbosch earlier this season.
“This is the club I really love so much. So, as long as I’m fit and the coach believes in me, I think I can reach 500 appearances,” he said, according to FARPost.
“The 100-milestone shows that when you put in the hard work, you can go far. Stellenbosch believed in me from the get-go when I set foot in the team. I’m very proud of what I have achieved with the club. I’m excited that I have made my 100th appearance for this wonderful team, with a win and a clean sheet.
“This shows the right building blocks just after the FIFA international break. The brotherhood in the team also played a role in my success. When I got here, they made it easier for me to acclimatise to the environment very quickly and easily.”
As Orlando Pirates weigh their options, all eyes will be on Moloisane in the coming months. Whether the defender chooses to remain loyal to Stellenbosch or answers the call of one of South Africa’s biggest clubs, his decision could shape the Sea Robbers’ title ambitions for the 2025/26 season – and potentially rewrite the balance of power in the Betway Premiership.
IOL Sport