Former Orlando Pirates star Dan Malesela has urged Kaizer Chiefs to retain Khanyisa Mayo beyond his current loan spell, backing the striker to come good despite a modest return so far.
The 27-year-old forward joined Amakhosi on loan from Algerian side CR Belouizdad at the start of the season, but has struggled to make a significant impact, scoring just twice in 13 appearances in all competitions.
With the likes of Glody Lilepo and Flávio Silva finding the back of the net more consistently, questions have been raised over whether Chiefs should exercise their option to sign Mayo permanently.
The Soweto giants are believed to have the opportunity to buy the striker, but his limited output has left many supporters unconvinced about committing significant funds.
However, Malesela, who has coached several PSL clubs including TS Galaxy and Chippa United,believes Mayo offers something different compared to most local forwards.
The experienced tactician argues that Mayo possesses a rare profile in South African football, highlighting his movement, intelligence, and ability to link play as qualities that are often overlooked when judging strikers purely on goals.
According to Malesela, Chiefs could benefit from showing patience, as Mayo’s overall contribution to the team may become more valuable with time and consistency.
As Amakhosi weigh up their options ahead of next season, the decision on Mayo could prove crucial, particularly as the club looks to build a more balanced and effective attacking unit.
Chiefs told to keep Mayo
“It depends on what Chiefs see and what they want from him,” Malesela told KickOff.
“What is not nice is that sometimes he doesn’t play, or he comes from the bench. When you have a player who comes with a reputation, you expect him to play all the time.”
“I’m not sure whether Chiefs would want to keep him or not, but with the way strikers of Mayo’s quality are so scarce, I would keep him at the club,” he continued. “Where are you going to find another striker? As a team and a coach, I would rather keep him and use him the way I would want to use him next season,” he said.