THE FUSE

Former Bafana Bafana defender Bongani Khumalo wants rising youngster Mbekezeli Mbokazi to block out the noise ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Mexico.

El Tri and South Africa tussle in the repeat of the 2010 WC in Mzansi where the tie played out to a 1-1 stalemate at FNB Stadium.

For Mbokazi, it has been a meteoric rise for the 20-year-old who has gone from turning out for Orlando Pirates’ DStv Diski Challenge team to winning trophies with the senior team.

The cherry on top for the Hluhluwe-born centre-back has been making the move to America’s Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire and earning the most votes in the selection for the MLS All Star team alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Heung Min Son just to mention a few.

Khumalo, who was part of the Bafana squad in the 2010 world cup and scored in the 2-1 win over France, has reminded Mbokazi that his character will be tested which will either make or break him.

“As a fan, nervous for him,” he said on Soccerzone.

“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, really wrong because of the expectations and eyes.

“And for a young footballer, that can either make or break you.

“I don’t know him personally, but I’d like to believe, with what he’s achieved so far, there’s a certain character that he has.

“One thing about football is that it will test that character 100 percent.

“Whether it’s this tournament or whatever tournament is there in the future, that will happen [character will be tested].”

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