Former Orlando Pirates star advises against adding Kaizer Chiefs and Bucs youngsters into the Bafana Bafana Afcon squad - 'That’s a tremendous amount of pressure'

Former Orlando Pirates star Naughty Mokoena has called for the protection of South African youngsters from pressure that might have a negative impact on their careers.

Mokoena said Relebohile Mofokeng, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota, Mduduzi Shabalala, Wandile Duba, and Mfundo Vilakazi may see their performance drop if they are put under consistent pressure.

He also cautioned that they should not be involved with Bafana Bafana for now, given the responsibility and pressure that come with serving the national side.

"It's going to be difficult for these youngsters to maintain their good form because too much pressure is being placed on them. These players are feeling the strain, and I don’t think they can handle it," Mokoena told KickOff.

"Take Mbokazi, for example; he has just entered professional football and hasn't even played 15 games, yet people are already demanding that the Bafana Bafana coaches include him in the Afcon squad. That’s a tremendous amount of pressure. If he is selected for Afcon and makes even one mistake, it could end his career. We need to be gentle with these boys and protect them properly," he added. 

"Last weekend, I was watching the Nedbank Cup final with some friends from my neighbourhood, and it was disturbing to hear how they were swearing at the young Mofokeng. I'm glad he couldn’t hear them. That kind of pressure is overwhelming for a young player. 

"I'm talking about all youngsters in the PSL, not just those at Orlando Pirates. They all need advice."

Apart from shielding them from pressure, Mokoena wants increased protection from parents for the youngsters.

"It also comes back to the role of their parents. Parents should play a significant role in helping their children grow. Many of these young players do not live with their parents, which gives them too much freedom. Parents need to be firm with them," he added.

"Don’t be intimidated by your child just because they have become famous and are earning money. Your child is still your child, and you know them best.

"When these players begin to behave poorly, both parents and the public often point fingers in the wrong direction, forgetting their own responsibilities," Mokoena continued.

"It's going to be hard for these boys to manage the increasing pressure week after week. I believe that clubs should involve former players like us to offer guidance. We've been through this, and we have the experience to help them."

Mofokeng has already been involved for Bafana during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March and, given his performances in the season, is set to keep his place for future duties under Hugo Broos.

Mbokazi and Duba have also shown huge potential to be part of the national team, and their involvement for the senior side is a matter of when, not if.

Duba has been trusted by Nasreddine Nabi to lead Kaizer Chiefs' attacking line, while Mbokazi is becoming a regular starter for Pirates at the back.

Mohau Nkota has also raised his stake and has regularly played even in high-profile games.

When Broos selects his next squad primarily for the World Cup qualifiers and the African Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, his selection will be highly scrutinised.

Last time, he failed to select a single player from the Chiefs' ranks, and Amakhosi fans will be eager to see whether their promising stars will earn call-ups soon.