Pirates’ Mbokani’s strike is PSL goal of season – Phumudzo Manezhe

South Africa’s well-known pundit and former footballer Phumudzo Manezhe has given his verdict on Orlando Pirates’ defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s wonder strike in the game against Siwelele FC.

The SuperSport Television analyst shared his thoughts after the Soweto giants upset Siwelele with the late strike in the Carling Knockout round-of-16 match at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

The goal stunned the SuperSport studio pundits especially Manezhe who described it as potential goal of the season.

“It is a goal-of-the season so far,” he said before explaining what made the goal special.

☠️ FT @orlandopirates 1 – 0 @Siwelele_FC

🥅 Mbokazi 87′

⚫⚪🔴⭐#MatchDay#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways pic.twitter.com/UBTf5rtWvc

— Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) October 4, 2025

“He intercepts [the ball], he drives forward and you also need to look at this—do you expect this from a centre-back? The technique that he applies. He is cutting through, the ball and the swerve it takes. I can’t blame [Samukelo Xulu, Siwele goalkeeper] for not taking a dive,” Manheze said.

Another analyst, former Bafana Bafana defender Matthews Booth could not agree more with Manheze.

“In actual fact, Mbokazi wasn’t having the best games, so then to produce something of that nature and have the confidence to take that shot, it is great character,” Booth said.

How Pirates overcome Siwelele’s resistance to advance

The hosts advanced to the next round of the game after the hard fought 1-0 victory. For the better part of the match, the coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side seemed to have run out of ideas of how to unlock the defence of Siwelele who defended deep and contained the more industrious opponents.

However, Mbokazi had other ideas on how to solve the puzzle. With three minutes remaining in regulation time, the young defender intercepted a ball just after the centre circle, looked this way and that way and just when he appeared like he wanted to make a pass, he unleashed a left-footed swinging shot that flew high and dipped into the far right corner of the net. There was nothing Siwelele keeper Xulu could do to stop it.