A senior member of the Orlando Pirates squad has issued his verdict on the emergence of young defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who is quickly turning into a mainstay for the Soweto giants.
Pirates progressed to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League after beating MC Alger 1-0 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.
READ | Emotional Riveiro: My life will never be the same
After Bucs won 1-0 in Algeria, the scores were level in Orlando on Wednesday.
Remarkably, it was the seventh consecutive match in which the side have not lost with Mbokazi in the line-up. Although the teenager is not solely responsible for the incredible undefeated streak, his impact cannot be swept under the rug.
That he was won three Man of the Match awards on the domestic front speaks volumes.
Tapelo Xoki, the man normally tasked with guiding the Pirates graduate, has spoken glowingly of the young lad.
"He makes it easy for us," Xoki responded when asked by KickOff.com after the match.
"He listens, he works hard. So, we just guide him where we need to. We don't want to put too much information on him, we let him play his game. We cover for him when he makes mistakes.
"We just encourage him to be himself. The same goes for all the youngsters in the team, ee don't want to impose too much information on them. We just let them enjoy themselves.
READ | Maela speaks on Riveiro's exit: We had our meetings and...
"For him now, he just has to take it one game at a time. The sky is the limit for him. The world is his oyster. If he does this consistently, who knows, he could be the next big thing in the country.
"I hope he stays grounded and humbled and continues to work hard," emphasised the former AmaZulu FC man.
Next up in the Champions League semis is a clash against Pyramids FC of Egypt.
