Mpho Makola (born 4 May 1986) is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder for National First Division club Polokwane City.[1] He previously played for Free State Stars and Orlando Pirates, before being transferred to Cape Town City in 2019. He parted ways with Cape Town City in early February 2023.

Mpho Makola
Personal information
Full name Mpho Terence Makola
Date of birth (1986-05-04) 4 May 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Alexandra, South Africa
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Polokwane City
Number 8
Youth career
Alex Sheffield
1999–2003 Kaizer Chiefs
Bidvest Wits
Vaal University of Technology
Africa Sport Youth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 Free State Stars 68 (6)
2012–2019 Orlando Pirates 137 (14)
2019–2023 Cape Town City 81 (3)
2023– Polokwane City 5 (0)
International career
2015– South Africa 7 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 September 2016

Early life

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Makola was born and raised in Alexandra and attended school in Yeoville Community Primary School and Barnato Park High School where he was a sports all rounder. He joined the Kaizer Chiefs academy in 1999 from Alex Sheffield. By the age of 15, Makola became his family's main breadwinner and took care of his mother and six siblings. As a teenager, Makola consumed drugs and hung around gangsters and nearly joined a hijacking syndicate. He later played for Vaal University of Technology and earned R900 a month.[2]

Career statistics

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As of 30 January 2018[3]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Free State Stars 2009–10 Premier Soccer League 26 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 3
2010–11 Premier Soccer League 26 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 1
2011–12 Premier Soccer League 16 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 19 2
Total 68 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 71 6
Orlando Pirates 2012–13 Premier Soccer League 9 1 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 11 1
2013–14 Premier Soccer League 17 2 5 1 0 0 3[b] 1 25 4
2014–15 Premier Soccer League 25 3 2 0 2 0 4[a] 0 33 3
2015–16 Premier Soccer League 24 7 5 1 3 1 1[a] 0 33 9
2016–17 Premier Soccer League 26 0 5 2 3 1 1[a] 0 35 3
2017–18 Premier Soccer League 17 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 19 2
Total 118 14 17 4 10 3 11 1 156 22
Career totals 186 20 20 4 10 3 11 1 227 28
  1. ^ a b c d Appearances in MTN 8
  2. ^ Appearances in CAF Champions League

International career

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He scored on his international debut against Senegal in an international friendly on 8 September 2015.

International goals

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Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first.[3]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 8 September 2015 Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa   Senegal 1–0 1–0 Friendly
2. 6 September 2016 Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa   Egypt 1–0 1–0 Friendly

References

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  1. ^ http://www.mtnfootball.com/africa/south-africa/absa-premiership/players/2013-2014/pirates/03-mpho-makola.html [dead link]
  2. ^ "Kickoff December 2015".
  3. ^ a b Mpho Makola at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 May 2023.