Deadspin | Fire acquire South African D Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Deadspin | Fire acquire South African D Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Oct 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter looks on before the game against Toronto FC at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Chicago Fire acquired defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi from South African side Orlando Pirates on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old South African center back is under contract through 2029 with an option for 2030. He will occupy a U-22 Initiative roster slot.

“We are excited to welcome Mbekezeli to the club as we further strengthen our back line,” said director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter.

“In his young career, he has already shown high potential and proven himself to be a strong leader and competitor on the international level. We expect immediate impact and room to grow in the future.”

Mbokazi tallied two goals and two assists in 38 matches for Orlando in the South African Premiership. He has earned five caps with the national team, helping South Africa qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — its first appearance since hosting the 2010 tournament.

–Field Level Media

Source link
#Deadspin #Fire #acquire #South #African #Mbekezeli #Mbokazi

Deadspin | Texans officially sign LB Azeez Al-Shaair to extension  Nov 2, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) reacts after a play during the first half against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sean Thomas-Imagn Images   The Houston Texans announced a three-year contract extension with Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on Friday.  Terms were not disclosed but multiple reports put the total value at  million.  Al-Shaair is the third key defensive player to sign an extension this offseason. All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. got a three-year, 0 million deal and five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter signed a one-year, .1 million deal.  Al-Shaair, 28, whose current deal was set to expire after the 2026 season, is tied to the franchise through 2029.   “This place is special. The people are special,” Al-Shaair said, per KPRC2. “A sense of family is hard to come by. Who would have thought I would make it to the NFL? I went through homelessness. I went to several schools. I couldn’t see myself putting on a uniform with anybody else.”  Al-Shaair, a team captain and first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2025, recorded 103 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions in 16 games (all starts) during the regular season.  He has totaled 535 tackles, six sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four interceptions in 100 career games (75 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2019-22), Tennessee Titans (2023) and Texans. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Texans #officially #sign #Azeez #AlShaair #extensionNov 2, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) reacts after a play during the first half against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sean Thomas-Imagn Images

The Houston Texans announced a three-year contract extension with Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on Friday.

Terms were not disclosed but multiple reports put the total value at $54 million.

Al-Shaair is the third key defensive player to sign an extension this offseason. All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. got a three-year, $150 million deal and five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter signed a one-year, $40.1 million deal.


Al-Shaair, 28, whose current deal was set to expire after the 2026 season, is tied to the franchise through 2029.

“This place is special. The people are special,” Al-Shaair said, per KPRC2. “A sense of family is hard to come by. Who would have thought I would make it to the NFL? I went through homelessness. I went to several schools. I couldn’t see myself putting on a uniform with anybody else.”

Al-Shaair, a team captain and first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2025, recorded 103 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions in 16 games (all starts) during the regular season.

He has totaled 535 tackles, six sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four interceptions in 100 career games (75 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2019-22), Tennessee Titans (2023) and Texans. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Texans #officially #sign #Azeez #AlShaair #extension">Deadspin | Texans officially sign LB Azeez Al-Shaair to extension  Nov 2, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) reacts after a play during the first half against the Denver Broncos at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sean Thomas-Imagn Images   The Houston Texans announced a three-year contract extension with Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on Friday.  Terms were not disclosed but multiple reports put the total value at  million.  Al-Shaair is the third key defensive player to sign an extension this offseason. All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. got a three-year, 0 million deal and five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter signed a one-year, .1 million deal.  Al-Shaair, 28, whose current deal was set to expire after the 2026 season, is tied to the franchise through 2029.   “This place is special. The people are special,” Al-Shaair said, per KPRC2. “A sense of family is hard to come by. Who would have thought I would make it to the NFL? I went through homelessness. I went to several schools. I couldn’t see myself putting on a uniform with anybody else.”  Al-Shaair, a team captain and first-time Pro Bowl selection in 2025, recorded 103 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions in 16 games (all starts) during the regular season.  He has totaled 535 tackles, six sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four interceptions in 100 career games (75 starts) with the San Francisco 49ers (2019-22), Tennessee Titans (2023) and Texans. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Texans #officially #sign #Azeez #AlShaair #extension

Deadspin | Ben Rice (3-run HR) backs Will Warren as Yankees beat O’s  May 1, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) hits a three run home run during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images   Ben Rice continued his torrid start by hitting a three-run homer in the second inning Friday night and the host New York Yankees recorded a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.  The Yankees won for the 11th time in their past 13 games in their return from a 7-2 road trip against the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.  Jose Caballero also homered and Cody Bellinger hit an RBI double as the Yankees rebounded from getting blanked for the second time this season. Aaron Judge added an RBI single in the eighth, reached base four times and scored on Bellinger’s double and Amed Rosario’s single in the seventh.  New York’s Will Warren (4-0) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out nine, walked one and won his third consecutive start.  Pete Alonso hit a tying homer in his first at-bat in New York since joining the Orioles on a five-year, 5 million contract after he was not offered a contract by the New York Mets in the offseason.  Baltimore’s Cade Povich (1-1) was tagged for five runs on seven hits in four innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked two.  In the first of seven meetings with the Yankees over the next two weeks, the Orioles were held to three hits and lost for the 10th time in 15 games. Earlier in the day, Baltimore put closer Ryan Helsley on the injured list with elbow inflammation.   Alonso forged a 1-1 tie by hitting a 1-1 sinker into the second deck in right field but the Yankees answered with a four-run second.  Caballero homered down the left field line by hitting Povich’s first-pitch fastball. Following a two-out double by Trent Grisham and a walk by Paul Goldschmidt, Rice hammered a 1-0 slider into the right field seats.  It was Rice’s 11th homer, one behind Judge for the team lead. It also was the first baseman’s seventh in the past 14 games and fifth off a left-handed pitcher this season.  Warren retired 12 straight until Alonso walked with one out in the seventh. After Samuel Bassallo singled and took second on Grisham’s error in center field, Fernando Cruz came in and allowed a run-scoring groundout to Dylan Beavers before finishing the inning.  Camilo Doval and Jake Bird pitched an inning apiece to close out the win.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Ben #Rice #3run #backs #Warren #Yankees #beatMay 1, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) hits a three run home run during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Ben Rice continued his torrid start by hitting a three-run homer in the second inning Friday night and the host New York Yankees recorded a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

The Yankees won for the 11th time in their past 13 games in their return from a 7-2 road trip against the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.

Jose Caballero also homered and Cody Bellinger hit an RBI double as the Yankees rebounded from getting blanked for the second time this season. Aaron Judge added an RBI single in the eighth, reached base four times and scored on Bellinger’s double and Amed Rosario’s single in the seventh.

New York’s Will Warren (4-0) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out nine, walked one and won his third consecutive start.

Pete Alonso hit a tying homer in his first at-bat in New York since joining the Orioles on a five-year, $155 million contract after he was not offered a contract by the New York Mets in the offseason.

Baltimore’s Cade Povich (1-1) was tagged for five runs on seven hits in four innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked two.


In the first of seven meetings with the Yankees over the next two weeks, the Orioles were held to three hits and lost for the 10th time in 15 games. Earlier in the day, Baltimore put closer Ryan Helsley on the injured list with elbow inflammation.

Alonso forged a 1-1 tie by hitting a 1-1 sinker into the second deck in right field but the Yankees answered with a four-run second.

Caballero homered down the left field line by hitting Povich’s first-pitch fastball. Following a two-out double by Trent Grisham and a walk by Paul Goldschmidt, Rice hammered a 1-0 slider into the right field seats.

It was Rice’s 11th homer, one behind Judge for the team lead. It also was the first baseman’s seventh in the past 14 games and fifth off a left-handed pitcher this season.

Warren retired 12 straight until Alonso walked with one out in the seventh. After Samuel Bassallo singled and took second on Grisham’s error in center field, Fernando Cruz came in and allowed a run-scoring groundout to Dylan Beavers before finishing the inning.

Camilo Doval and Jake Bird pitched an inning apiece to close out the win.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Ben #Rice #3run #backs #Warren #Yankees #beat">Deadspin | Ben Rice (3-run HR) backs Will Warren as Yankees beat O’s  May 1, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) hits a three run home run during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images   Ben Rice continued his torrid start by hitting a three-run homer in the second inning Friday night and the host New York Yankees recorded a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.  The Yankees won for the 11th time in their past 13 games in their return from a 7-2 road trip against the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.  Jose Caballero also homered and Cody Bellinger hit an RBI double as the Yankees rebounded from getting blanked for the second time this season. Aaron Judge added an RBI single in the eighth, reached base four times and scored on Bellinger’s double and Amed Rosario’s single in the seventh.  New York’s Will Warren (4-0) allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out nine, walked one and won his third consecutive start.  Pete Alonso hit a tying homer in his first at-bat in New York since joining the Orioles on a five-year, 5 million contract after he was not offered a contract by the New York Mets in the offseason.  Baltimore’s Cade Povich (1-1) was tagged for five runs on seven hits in four innings. The left-hander struck out four and walked two.  In the first of seven meetings with the Yankees over the next two weeks, the Orioles were held to three hits and lost for the 10th time in 15 games. Earlier in the day, Baltimore put closer Ryan Helsley on the injured list with elbow inflammation.   Alonso forged a 1-1 tie by hitting a 1-1 sinker into the second deck in right field but the Yankees answered with a four-run second.  Caballero homered down the left field line by hitting Povich’s first-pitch fastball. Following a two-out double by Trent Grisham and a walk by Paul Goldschmidt, Rice hammered a 1-0 slider into the right field seats.  It was Rice’s 11th homer, one behind Judge for the team lead. It also was the first baseman’s seventh in the past 14 games and fifth off a left-handed pitcher this season.  Warren retired 12 straight until Alonso walked with one out in the seventh. After Samuel Bassallo singled and took second on Grisham’s error in center field, Fernando Cruz came in and allowed a run-scoring groundout to Dylan Beavers before finishing the inning.  Camilo Doval and Jake Bird pitched an inning apiece to close out the win.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Ben #Rice #3run #backs #Warren #Yankees #beat

Post Comment