Why Broos views Mbokazi as the ‘next Vincent Kompany’

Drawing direct comparisons to the legendary Vincent Kompany, Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has doubled down on his criticism of Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s transfer to Major League Soccer (MLS).

While the 20-year-old recently traded Orlando Pirates for the Chicago Fire in a high-profile move, Broos believes the United States is the wrong destination for a talent he views as a future European heavyweight. The Belgian tactician, who gave a young Kompany his debut at Anderlecht decades ago, sees the same rare psychological and technical traits in the KZN-born defender.

“If you see the level he’s on now—and please don’t misunderstand me because I don’t want to compare him with Vincent Kompany—I see the same things,” Broos said. “Kompany was also confident at that age, and he needed to go somewhere else, which was Germany, and then he went to Manchester City, where he became a fantastic player. This is something that can happen with Mbokazi also; therefore, Chicago is not the right place.”

Mbokazi’s stock reached an all-time high during the ongoing 2025 AFCON in Morocco. Despite Bafana’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Egypt, the youngster produced a masterclass in defensive positioning, effectively neutralising Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah.

“For me, he was the Man-of-the-Match,” Broos insisted. “The way that he played the game against Egypt, I just remember in the second half going into duels with Salah. Salah didn’t have any chance, and that shows the quality of Mbokazi.”

France or Spain: The Ideal Path For Mbokazi

Broos has been vocal about his low opinion of the MLS, previously sparking a backlash for questioning the league’s competitive standard. He reiterated that for Mbokazi to reach the “Kompany level,” he requires the tactical rigours of Europe’s elite leagues.

“Mbokazi should go to a bigger competition, I mean, a European competition. Let’s say France or Spain. Not Real Madrid or Barcelona, but a good Spanish team, then he becomes better and better. He’s already at a high level; he will just improve further when he plays against better players.”

The 20-year-old left-footer enjoyed a meteoric rise at Orlando Pirates, captaining the side to the top of the Betway Premiership and clinching both the MTN8 and Carling Knockout titles before his exit. While Chicago Fire fans are eager to see their new signing, their joy is clearly not shared by the man in charge of the South African national team.