Kaizer Chiefs’ signing of Khanyisa Mayo on a season long loan deal has upped their status in becoming a genuine threat towards ending Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance in the Betway Premiership.
Chiefs have started the new season on a positive footing and all they now need is to make sure they maintain that pace for the 25 league games remaining.
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The signing of Mayo is a huge welcome in adding the firepower upfront which has had Etiosa Ighodaro, Flavio Silva, and Luke Baartman all signed in this window for the forward line.
Mayo has joined on loan for the rest of the campaign after spending just a season with Algerian club CR Belouizdad.
While the 27-year-old’s time in Algiers wasn’t spectacular, his footprint from his last two years playing in the PSL is not just good but grew better so much that he even stood as the best.
He scored 11 in all competitions in the 2023/24 season after having been on 13 the previous season.
This was while playing for Cape Town City where he spent three years.
So, he will move to Chiefs encouraged by what he has done in domestic competitions especially the league where he was on double numbers in his last two seasons.
This gives Nasreddine Nabi the kind of ammunition to push him into playing two or even three upfront considering the options that he now has.
Mayo can play as either the top man or off the shoulders of the numbers nine.
The number nine role now has Ighodaro, Silva, Mayo, Naledi Hlongwane, Wandile Duba, Ashley du Preez, Baartman, and Tashreeq Morris.
Mayo, Du Preez, and Baartman can also play as a supporting striker or even out wide where Glody Makabi Lilepo is the main man.
The attacking midfield has Gaston Sirino, Mduduzi Shabalala, Mfundo Vilakazi, Pule Mmodi, and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo.
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Exciting times ahead for Chiefs who have had only one player (Samir Nurkovic – 13 goals – 2019/20) reaching double numbers on the scoring charts in the league in the last 11 years.
With so many avenues for goals it should translate to more games being won and a strong challenge for the league which should hopefully end Sundowns’ stronghold.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
