Bongani Khumalo offers timely advice to rising star Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Mbokazi has enjoyed a meteoric rise in Major League Soccer since joining Chicago Fire from Orlando Pirates six months ago, producing standout displays that has since earned him a place in the MLS All-Star Team alongside Lionel Messi. 

Khumalo, who was part of the 2010 World Cup squad at the age of 23 – just three years older than the 20-year-old Mbokazi – has urged the highly-rated centre-back to remain grounded as expectations continue to grow. 

"As a fan, I'm nervous for him. As a former pro, I would say, stay away from the noise. I think the World Cup is such a stage where things can either go really right for you or really wrong because of the expectations and the eyes," warned Khumalo.

"For a young footballer that can either make or break you, and I'd like to believe – I don't know him personally, with what he's achieved so far, there's a certain character that he has and one thing about football is that it will test that character, 100 percent.

"Whether it's this tournament or whatever tournament in the future, that will happen, and I would like to believe that he has the personality and character to drag himself out of any situation as a leader and figure it out.

"So, therefore, going back to being a fan, I'm saying that eases the nerves, but it's important – regardless of what happens."

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The former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back is also hoping that expectations from the fans isn’t on overdrive during the global showpiece.  

"I think it's fantastic when we're celebrated but there is another side to football that can be quite nasty – we have fans who expect a lot, who put their emotions on the line, and that can come with some fire if things don't go well," he added.

"So just it's important to have an understanding of the fact that these are young professionals who still have a long way to go in their careers.

"This is a beautiful stage and they've done well to make a name for themselves and put themselves here, but they need to understand that there's a bigger, much longer picture if you look at this current generation."