Another Injury, Another Question Mark
Kaizer Chiefs confirmed this week that defender Paseka Mako fractured his forearm during a pre-season friendly against Al-Kholood in Spain. He has already been sent back to South Africa for specialist assessment. This is not a minor inconvenience — this is a pattern, and Chiefs fans deserve to look it straight in the eye.
The 32-year-old left-back managed just 18 appearances across all competitions last season. Eighteen. For a player who was supposed to bring experience and defensive solidity to Amakhosi’s backline, that number tells you everything the official statements won’t.
The History Nobody Wants to Say Out Loud
Mako arrived at Kaizer Chiefs carrying the weight of a seven-year stint at Orlando Pirates, where he made 115 appearances — a respectable record, but one that was already punctuated by persistent fitness disruptions. Chiefs signed him knowing that history. The question now is whether they signed a player or signed a problem.
His latest setback will force him to consult a specialist orthopaedic surgeon before any recovery timeline is set. The club’s statement says he is “expected to rejoin his teammates in the coming weeks once his recovery is underway” — carefully worded language that commits to nothing and promises very little.
What This Means for the 2026/27 Season
Bradley Cross currently holds the first-choice left-back spot, and with Mako sidelined, Chiefs are dangerously thin on experienced cover in that position. One injury to Cross — one bad tackle, one awkward landing — and new head coach Da Cruz is scrambling.
The transfer window is still open. Chiefs need to make a decision fast: either bring in reinforcements at left-back before the window slams shut, or walk into the new season exposed on the flank. There is no middle ground here, and hoping Mako recovers quickly is not a strategy.
The Bigger Picture
Chiefs did offer some positive news — players who ended last season on the treatment table have returned to training and are competing for places under Da Cruz. Amakhosi also still have a pre-season fixture against La Liga side Elche in Spain, before returning home to face Zimbabwean club Scottland FC in the Toyota Cup in Rustenburg on 26 July.
But Mako’s broken arm casts a shadow over all of it. For young Chiefs supporters who have watched this club stumble through seasons derailed by injury crises and poor squad depth, this moment feels uncomfortably familiar. The front office knows what needs to be done. The clock is ticking.
