Gregg Berhalter isn't backing down from his decision to bring Mbekezeli Mbokazi to Chicago Fire. The former US national team coach believes MLS offers a clear upgrade over South Africa's Betway Premiership, even if not everyone agrees.
Bafana Bafana boss Hugo Broos created a storm when he criticized Mbokazi's move from Orlando Pirates to Chicago Fire. Broos claimed the switch would inflate the young defender's ego and called Fire "not even a Cup team." Those comments didn't sit well in South Africa, but Berhalter says he understands where Broos is coming from.
"I've had a number of conversations with Hugo and I completely understand his perspective," Berhalter told ESPN on Thursday. "He wants his players playing at the highest possible level. Just like with the United States, I think there's steps for every player."
MLS as a Stepping Stone
Berhalter sees the move as part of Mbokazi's development journey. The 20-year-old center-back isn't heading straight to Europe's top leagues, and that's okay. For Chicago Fire backers wondering about their defensive reinforcement, this signing could prove shrewd if Mbokazi adapts quickly to MLS physicality.
"For them to move from the South African league to Major League Soccer is a step up in quality and it's going to help them develop," Berhalter explained. He's also brought in winger Puso Dithejane from TS Galaxy, doubling down on South African talent.
The Fire coach emphasized his club can "help both of these players adapt, get used to a high level, and add to their skillset" before any potential European move. Chicago maintains close contact with South Africa's national team staff, treating this as a collaborative project.
Controversy and Context
Sources inside Chicago Fire disputed one of Broos's key claims. The Belgian coach suggested Mbokazi wouldn't be a first-team player, but that simply wasn't true according to club insiders.
The situation got even messier when Broos was reported to South Africa's Human Rights Commission. His comments about Mbokazi "entering as a Black man and leaving as a white man" after a dressing-down raised eyebrows. He also called agent Basia Michaels "a nice little woman who thinks she knows football," which didn't go down well.
Broos apologized for how he delivered his comments but stood by the core message. For now, Mbokazi will look to prove his worth in Chicago and potentially boost his national team standing in the process.
