Kaizer Chiefs defender Paseka Mako has pulled back the curtain on the subtle shifts in life between the two Soweto giants, highlighting three differences between his former club, Orlando Pirates, and his current home, Amakhosi.
Speaking to the media at the Kaizer Chiefs Village on Monday afternoon, Mako appeared focused—if not a bit reserved—as the Glamour Boys ramp up their preparations for the resumption of the 2025/26 campaign following the 2025 AFCON hiatus.
Amakhosi are set to host Golden Arrows in a Betway Premiership clash at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night with kick-off set for 19:30. With the title race heating up, Chiefs are desperate for three points to stay within touching distance of the league’s frontrunners, Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.
While Mako acknowledged that Abafana Bes’thende are a ‘good and strong’ unit, it was his guarded comparison of South Africa’s two biggest clubs that truly captured the room. Though he stopped short of a detailed breakdown, his brief assessment of the cultural divide between the Soweto rivals spoke volumes, leaving much to the imagination of the gathered press.
MAKO ON CROSSING THE GREAT DIVIDE AND THE MISSION TO RESTORE CHIEFS’ GLORY
The highly-rated left-back made the high-profile switch to Naturena in July 2025, alongside ex-Bucs teammate Thabiso Monyane. In doing so, he joined an elite list of “cross-border” legends like Jimmy Tau, Gert Schalkwyk, and Collins Mbesuma. However, his start to life in Gold and Black hasn’t been without its hurdles; an early injury setback limited the 31-year-old to just nine appearances across all competitions.
Now fully fit and hungry for minutes, Mako pinpointed three pillars that set Chiefs apart from the Sea Robbers: 1. The Winning Mentality: A relentless focus on victory. 2. The Support System: A unique locker-room bond where players lift one another during low moments. 3. The Club Culture: A distinct atmosphere that permeates the Village.
“Coming from that side [Pirates] to this side [Chiefs], the difference is that the guys here have a winning mentality,” Mako explained. “They encourage you when you are down—even the coaches—and the culture of the team is just different. I would say that is the main contrast.”
Meanwhile, Mako also stated that crossing the Soweto divide was a difficult transition, but he was quick to shut down any lingering nostalgia.
“It was hard moving from the other side to come here, but my focus is now entirely on Kaizer Chiefs. I don’t want to revisit the past; my main goal is to help this club move forward and return to the pinnacle of South African football by winning trophies,” he concluded.
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