Gregg Berhalter explains why Puso Dithejane has impressed more than Mbekezeli Mbokazi at Chicago Fire
Puso Dithejane’s dream start to life in Major League Soccer has reached another significant milestone after Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter admitted the South African winger has exceeded expectations and, surprisingly, impressed him even more than fellow countryman Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
The remarkable endorsement comes just days after Dithejane celebrated his first MLS goal in Chicago Fire’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Inter Miami. While the result ended in disappointment, the goal marked a defining moment in the 22 year old’s rapid rise since arriving in the United States.
For a player who began his journey with Chicago Fire’s reserve side, Dithejane’s progress has been nothing short of remarkable. He has patiently worked his way into the first team and is now emerging as one of the club’s most exciting young talents.
Speaking to iDiski Times, Berhalter explained that while Mbokazi has delivered exactly what the club expected, Dithejane’s rapid development has caught everyone by surprise.
“Puso has actually been more impressive than Mbokazi. The reason is simple. We already knew what Mbokazi would bring, and he has done exactly that. He’s a top quality defender,” Berhalter said.
The former United States national team coach stressed that Mbokazi arrived with an established reputation, having already proven himself at senior level and represented South Africa.
By contrast, Dithejane arrived with greater uncertainty about how quickly he could adapt to the demands of American football.
“With Puso, it was about how quickly he could improve, adapt and gain the confidence to compete at this level. Mbokazi was already an established player and had represented the national team.
“Puso wasn’t at that stage yet, but he has developed so much in such a short space of time. He’s becoming a very important player for this team.”
Those comments underline just how highly Berhalter now rates the former TS Galaxy winger, whose performances have steadily grown stronger with every opportunity.
Dithejane believes his breakthrough moment was no accident.
The young winger revealed that he spent the recent FIFA World Cup break working tirelessly on his game, determined to return as a more complete player.
“Before I went onto the field, I told myself I had to score. I wanted to show how much I had improved during the break. I had been scoring in training and wanted to help the team win,” Dithejane said.
His confidence paid off with a memorable first MLS goal, even if Chicago Fire ultimately fell short against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
Now, with momentum firmly on his side and the backing of his head coach, Dithejane appears closer than ever to cementing a regular place in Chicago Fire’s starting line-up.
The South African will be hoping to build on his breakthrough when Chicago Fire travel to face New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, with another strong performance capable of strengthening his growing reputation in Major League Soccer.
