Chippa backstop gets Baxter call for Cosafa
HARD work and perseverance has paid off for Chippa United’s Paseka Mako after the centreback received a call up from Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter to join his preliminary squad for the Cosafa Cup.
The matches will take place in Polokwane from May 27 to June 9 this year.
Mako is part of the 34-man squad that was announced by Baxter on Friday.
He will have to work his way into final cut of 20 players that will take part in the two-weeklong tournament.
The announcement of the final squad will be made next Thursday as the players must be registered with Cosafa by Sunday‚ May 20.
The 24-year-old who was recruited by former Chilli Boys coach Dan Malesela from his former club, National First Division side Cape Town All Stars, last season has been an incredible asset to the Port Elizabeth-based team.
After being on the sidelines for a couple of months after arriving at Chippa, it was only when defender Marc van Heerden moved to Orlando Pirates that he was given game time.
Mako made his debut for the Chilli Boys in 2016 against Bidvest Wits and has only missed two league matches since then.
He is up against fellow defenders Reeve Frosler (Wits)‚ Grant Kekana (SuperSport)‚ Siyabonga Ngezana (Chiefs)‚ Motjeka Madisha (Sundowns)‚ Siyanda Xulu (Maritzburg)‚ Taariq Fielies (CT City)‚ Innocent Maela (Pirates)‚ Musa Lebusa (Ajax)‚ Sibusiso Mabiliso (AmaZulu) and Mothobi Mvala (Highlands Park) who are also part of the preliminary team.
If he does make it into Baxter’s Cosafa Cup team he will be the second Chippa player since 2016 to receive a Bafana call up after former teammate Diamond Thopola.
Chippa are preparing for their last fixture of the season which is against Polokwane City, at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, kickoff at 3pm.
A win against The Rise and Shine will secure a top eight spot finish for the Chilli Boys.