Khanyisa Mayo is back in the Betway Premiership after a season in Algeria and is eager to impress at Kaizer Chiefs, writes Mazola Molefe.
Kaizer Chiefs stepping in to rescue Khanyisa Mayo from a difficult spell in Algeria could prove to be a careerdefining moment for the striker – but it also means he now carries a significant debt to repay on the pitch.
With no obligation to buy in his loan deal from CR Belouizdad, Mayo faces a crucial test: to score goals, fit into the system, and earn a permanent stay at Naturena.
His move came after a surprise decision by Sead Ramovic, the former TS Galaxy coach now in charge at CRB, who told the forward he was surplus to requirements.
It was a puzzling call given Ramovic’s familiarity with Mayo from their PSL days.
“Mayo is a true professional, and I have the utmost respect for him,” Ramovic told iDiski Times before the PSL transfer deadline.
“But in football, it’s about timing, the right role for the player, and the team’s overall strategy. At this stage, a new challenge is the best opportunity for him to continue playing at the highest level.”
That assessment ignored Mayo’s solid record – 39 appearances last season, including a role in the CAF Champions League group stages. Chiefs saw an opening.
The Soweto giants had long admired Mayo but were previously discouraged by the R30 million price tag Cape Town City placed on him before his move to Algeria in July last year.
When the chance came to bring him home on loan, they didn’t hesitate.
“It’s no secret that we wanted Khanyisa before his move to Algeria,” said Kaizer Motaung Jr after finalising the deal.
“He has a proven track record in the league, and we believe he will add significant value this season – both domestically and in Africa. He joins a proud line of players following in their families’ footsteps.”
Chiefs hadn’t planned to add another forward after signing Flavio da Silva and Etiosa Ighodaro, who joined Ashley du Preez, Wandile Duba, and Tashreeq Morris in a crowded attack. That depth means Mayo must prove himself quickly.
In truth, he likely needs Chiefs more than they need him because if Ramovic remains CRB coach, Mayo’s future in Algeria looks bleak – making this loan spell his chance to reset his career.
No one understands that pressure more than his father, Patrick Mayo, a former Chiefs player who knows the weight of the gold and black jersey.
“The advice I can give him is to be humble, level-headed, respect the fans and work very hard,” the elder Mayo said after his son’s arrival.
“They will expect a lot of goals from him. He must not put himself under too much pressure, just be a team player and give everything.”
For Chiefs, the deal is low risk with big potential, while for Mayo, it is a shot at redemption and perhaps, the moment to finally fulfil a promise that began long before Algeria, in a family and a football culture built on legacy.
