Mayo determined to finish what his father started at Chiefs

Bafana Bafana striker Khanyisa Mayo believes his dream of playing for Kaizer Chiefs will be realised one day.

The established striker made a name in the Premier Soccer League with Cape Town City before Algerian outfit CR Beluizdad snapped him in the summer transfer window. The North Africans were keen on strengthening the attacking department, and the Mayo was the right candidate for the job.

The 26-year-old recalls how Beluizdad worked swiftly to get him to sign for them ahead of the 2024/25 edition.

Chiefs dream was close but…

“Kaizer Chiefs move] was close… I was coming back from training and my agent called me saying that there’s a team that wants you now, and to leave as in tomorrow,” Mayo recalls how his current team came for him as quoted by iDiski Times.

“So, I was like, ‘Let me think about it, give me a few minutes, I’ll think about it’. But I also wanted a challenge.

“I wanted to challenge myself. I said okay, this is an opportunity to go out of South Africa, to get a better opportunity, and also the history of the club, playing in the Caf Champions League, and they were in the second round of the Champions League.  

“I told myself I wanted to play in the Champions League and I got the opportunity to play in the Champions League. It’s a dream come true. It’s not easy to qualify for the Champions League.”

Mayo determined to finish what his father started at Chiefs

The forward opens up on how the Glamour Boys failed to beat Belouizdad to his signature after late submission of papers.

“After we’ve submitted the documents and then an hour later, Chiefs came knocking interested in me, and they were willing to meet the asking demands of Mr [John] Comitis,” he continued.

“Unfortunately, I had signed the contract and sent it back to Belouizdad. But, yeah, it makes me proud.

“I said to my father [Patrick Mayo] once I wish I could finish what you have started, to go play for Kaizer Chiefs.”

After a difficult start, Mayo is settling in North Africa; he has scored two goals in as many recent games across all competitions.