Amajita coach optimistic over Mbekezeli Mbokazi World Cup availability

The National Men's Under-20 side are currently utilising the FIFA international window to prepare for the global showpiece, which kicks off on 27 September, with several internationally-based players also in camp in Tshwane.

However, Mbokazi is part of coach Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and Pirates' willingness to release him for the junior event remains in question due to his importance at club level, though Mdaka is quietly optimistic.

"You know, we said to ourselves that we are without him but we are with him in spirit. I'm not gonna comment that much about that because we might have him, so you never know,” Mdaka said.

“Obviously we'd like [to have him] because he's one player who has grown within the team. He's been part of the preparations, he's been part of us, he's been key, so, he's somebody that we'd like to have but we'll always understand situations.

“As much as I can't comment for now to say indeed we have him or we don't have him but we have him in our list. For instance, in this camp, he has gone to Bafana and they are doing the World Cup Qualifiers, so, it's something that is very understandable but we still believe chances are, we're gonna have him."

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Mbokazi missed out on the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in April and May, when Amajita went on to win the title, after Pirates opted not to release the 19-year-old centre-back in a critical phase of the domestic season.

With the likes of Belgian-based Shandre Campbell, England-based Tylon Smith, Portugal-based Fletcher Smyth-Lowe all part of the 29-man preliminary camp, the coach admits he had a massive task in trimming it down to 21 for the FIFA competition.

"Quite complex, huh, it's quite challenging but honestly we're very happy with what we're seeing. This is our fourth day, we dropped in on Sunday, we had a session on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and today and I think 90% of the group that is here are those players that we started with early in our first camps,” the coach added.

“So, it looks to be going well, it's just complex and difficult because we have our 30 players with us here, 29 actually, Mabena [Siyabonga] is not here because of the minor injury that he's having. 

“Out of this, we need to come out with 21 and that's quite challenging but honestly it has been a very good preparatory camp. It's giving us some of the areas because we're not starting afresh, we are starting from somewhere just to see where we can close down, where we can improve. 

“I think so far, so good, we're getting on the right track, we just wish and pray that we don't get injuries."