Mbokazi & Dithejane To Feature In New Chicago Fire Short Film

Chicago Fire FC has announced a new short film spotlighting their South African talents Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Puso Dithejane, celebrating the intersection of football and African culture in the heart of the Windy City.

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Major League Soccer outfit, Chicago Fire FC, is preparing to shine a spotlight on its South African talent and the city's African culture ahead of Africa Day with the announcement of a new short film featuring rising stars Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Puso Dithejane.

The club revealed the project this week as part of a broader cultural initiative tied to Africa Day celebrations on 25 May and what the team described as "a summer of global soccer" leading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Titled "On the Rise: From South Africa to Chicago Fire," the short film explores the journeys of Mbokazi and Dithejane from South Africa to the United States, while also highlighting the influence of African culture within Chicago and the club's growing connection to the continent.

Chicago Fire announced a short film featuring two of their South African players, #MbekezeliMbokazi and #PusoDithejane.

The film focused on soccer and African culture in Chicago will premiere Friday, May 22.https://t.co/3pNZfvPO2N#vamosfire #cf97

The film is set to premiere on Friday, 22 May, during an Africa Day Gala hosted in partnership with US politician and mayor, Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago. According to the club, the event will bring together civic leaders alongside members of Chicago's Black and African communities in celebration of culture, identity and football.

Following its premiere, the feature will also be released via Chicago Fire's YouTube platform and appear in an upcoming episode of the club's award-winning magazine-style series, Inside the Fire, on Marquee Sports Network.

The project was produced by Black Arrow FC, a creative platform operating at the intersection of football and Black culture.

"Mbokazi and Dithejane's stories are about more than just football — they reflect movement, identity, and how the game connects people across borders," said Aaron Dolores. "Chicago is part of that story, and this project was about capturing that connection in a real way," he added.

The Fire announced they are releasing a short film featuring Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Puso Dithejane "as part of multi-week programming centered on soccer and African culture in Chicago" #cf97https://t.co/ZZNgtPNwyS pic.twitter.com/uhC2bNg3Ga

For Chicago Fire, the film represents more than just a football story. "This is a powerful moment, both for our team's South African players and for the communities that shape our Club," said Dan Moriarty.

"This short film reflects our commitment to global culture, honours our players' stories, and reinforces soccer as a platform to bring Chicagoans together," he added.

Chicago Fire are also campaigning heavily for Mbekezeli Mbokazi to be included in this season's MLS All-Star team:

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