Chippa’s Mako cracks nod for Bafana squad
HARD work and perseverance have paid off for Chippa United’s Paseka Mako after the centre-back 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 announced by Baxter on Friday. He will have to work his way into the final cut of 20 players that will take part in the 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 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 missed only 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, against Polokwane City, at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday (3pm).
A win against The Rise and Shine will secure a top-eight spot finish for the Chilli Boys. They are eighth on the log with 36 points from 29 games.