Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler says his star striker Khanyisa Mayo should have scored plenty of goals this season because they are creating opportunities for him up top.
Mayo netted his 10th league goal when City beat Royal AM 2-1 for the first time away at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday, in what was a come-from-behind victory.
Mayo, the son of former Bafana Bafana striker, Patrick, is now the third player to be on 10 goals alongside SuperSport United hitmen Bradley Grobler and Monnapule Saleng of Orlando Pirates.
All of them are one shy of Mamelodi Sundowns’ Peter Shalulile, who leads the charts by 11 goals.
As much as the league title has been won by Sundowns with seven games to spare, the tussle for the golden boot is going to be interesting between these four players and one can also not rule out Ranga Chivaviro, Etiosa Ighodaro, Iqraam Rayners and Cassius Mailula, who are all tied on nine apiece.
“To be honest, Mayo shouldn’t be on 10, Mayo should be a lot more,” said Tinkler when asked if he would help him towards the Golden boot award.
“Now it is about turning those opportunities created into goals. Our strikers need to understand that we watch leagues around the world – 10 goals is not a helluva lot for strikers.
“We should double that, 20, 25, somewhere there, it is where you need to be aiming at. He needs to look to improve next season.”
The tally this season appears likely to be one of the lowest, unlike last term where Shalulile scored 23, two short to equal Collins Mbesuma’s record of the 2004/05 season.
Tinkler says the PSL is more competitive that strikers hardly hit 20 plus league goals per season, adding a look at what happened to ‘Ntofontofo’, who went on to sign for English Premier League side then Portsmouth 18 years ago.
“Our league has always shown in the past that. I think the last time Collins Mbesuma got 30 goals (25 in the league and 35 in all competitions), what happened to him and where did he go? He went to Portsmouth,” said Tinkler.
“When you score those kinds of goals, you get opportunities in life. But there are many reasons (why the number is short) – composure is one of them.
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“As coaches, we can work on technique but in terms of composure and being in the moment, only the player can resolve that.”
Meanwhile, according to reports, Mayo has since seen City trigger a two-year option in his contract, meaning he is now tied with City until 2025.
The 24-year-old has courted attention from Mamelodi Sundowns, who City has a sound relationship with when it comes to player trading.
