Mbekezeli Mbokazi has opened up on his first senior team appearance after making his debut as Orlando Pirates registered a 1-0 win over Chippa United.
Pirates bounced back from a shock weekend defeat to Marumo Gallants with a slender win over Chippa at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday.
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After last Saturday's defensive disaster that saw Gabadinho Mhango given acres of space to control and blast the ball into the net, as well as an own goal from Thalente Mbatha after Tapelo Xoki and Nkosinathi Sibisi failed to clear their lines, Jose Riveiro made some brave changes to his starting XI.
This included relegating the under-fire Xoki to the bench in favour of DStv Diski Challenge team captain Mbokazi, who went on to put in an impressive shift alongside Man of the Match and goalscorer Nkosinathi Sibisi.
"I feel very happy," Mbokazi told Pirates' media department post-match.
"I was forgetting a few things, but he (Sibisi) would always remind me. I had full faith in him and I am happy that I played my first game alongside him.
"That means, as we go forward, there is a lot that we can achieve.
'Mbazo', as Mbokazi is affectionately known, has been training with the senior team for several weeks and was part of the national U20 side that won the COSAFA Cup in 2024.
In a previous interview, he had identified Sibisi as one of his role models.
"I like defenders. I don't like defenders that are [soft]. I like guys like 'Bhodlela' (Sibisi), men that fight. I like to fight, I don't like to lose, to be honest," Mbokazi told Luvo Mlobeli of Sponono Media recently.
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"When a striker comes up against that person (a fighter), they feel it. I won't lose to another man. Even if he is older, I will lose while trying."
The youngster will be aiming to follow in the steps of fellow academy graduates Relebohile Mofokeng, Thabiso Sesane, and Mohau Nkota, who have blossomed into key players at the Buccaneers in both the domestic and continental stages.