Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates Paseka Mako’s lookalike Phillip Ndlondlo. Images via Twitter @MickyJnr__ and @Twitter/Paseka Mako

Paseka Mako discusses horrific face injury and his Pirates ‘twin’

Orlando Pirates star Paseka Mako opens up about the horrific face injury and his lookalike Phillip Ndlondlo in the soccer club.

Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates Paseka Mako’s lookalike Phillip Ndlondlo. Images via Twitter @MickyJnr__ and @Twitter/Paseka Mako

April 2023 marked a year since Orlando Pirates star Paseka Mako recovered from a face injury that could have ended his soccer career. 

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PASEKA MAKO: ‘I THOUGHT MY FOOTBALL CAREER WAS OVER’

According to City Press, his team-mate, Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori’s knee collided with defender Paseka Mako’s head. 

Though he can’t recall the 12 April 2022 incident, the defender was unconscious on the field when they played against Baroka at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane and Mako left the stadium in an ambulance.

Mako tells the publication that he thanks God for recovering so fast and his gratitude also goes out to their physios and all the medical staff who took care of him. 

“I thought my football career was over”

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HIS ORLANDO PIRATES LOOKALIKE 

Paseka Mako acknowledges soccer fans often confuse him with his team-mate Phillip Ndlondlo, who measures almost the same height (1.62m) and is the shortest player in the Orlando Pirates senior team. The defender adds that he’s known Ndlondlo since their academy days.

“Phillip was playing for the Swallows development team and I was at Sundowns. Whenever I visit places such as the malls, some people think I am Philip and they call me Ndlondlo. We used to call each twin when he was playing for Marumo Gallants.”

At the Downs Academy, Mako’s teammates included Percy Tau, Keagan Dolly, and the late Motjeka Madisha.

Mako, who was born on April Fool’s Day in 1994 says his birthday somehow resonates with his personality: “I think that’s why I was also named Paseka, which means Easter.”

He is a free spirit, has a wicked sense of humour, which is why fans love him and his peers like hanging around with him.

The defender also jokes about being caught on camera, listening in on the pep talk of the Buccaneers’ match-day opponents.

.Mako has been caught on camera several times listening in on the pep talk of the Buccaneers’ match-day opponents.

“I do this all the time. Always when I see the players of our opponents being called by their bench to be given instructions, I follow them. Even if it involves just two players, I listen to their conversations. I mean, we are all on an open field and it’s not like I am invading their space in the dressing room,” explains the soccer star.

He also reflected on this season and said he’d like Pirates to close this campaign with the Nedbank Cup trophy.

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Paseka Mako. Image via Twitter @CityPress

Orlando Pirates Paseka Mako’s lookalike Phillip Ndlondlo. Images via Twitter @CityPress and @prophilani
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