As the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season nears its conclusion, the strategic direction of Kaizer Chiefs is once again under the microscope. While much of the talk at Naturena has focused on the hunt for a permanent head coach and the futures of veteran stars, a new debate has emerged regarding the club’s on-loan forward, Khanyisa Mayo.
Veteran tactician Dan “Dance” Malesela has added his influential voice to the conversation, urging the Amakhosi management to exercise their option to keep Mayo beyond his current loan spell. For Malesela, the decision is not just about Mayo’s current statistics, but about the fundamental scarcity of quality strikers in South African football.
The “Scarce Commodity” Argument
Speaking in April 2026, Malesela highlighted a harsh reality facing the PSL: the “striker crisis.” In a league where goals are often hard to come by and reliable number nines are increasingly rare, Malesela believes that letting go of a player with Mayo’s pedigree would be a tactical error.
“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,” Malesela noted. “If you release Mayo now, then where are you going to get another striker?”
Malesela’s argument is rooted in the belief that Mayo’s “reputation” as a clinical finisher—honed during his prolific years at Cape Town City—outweighs his recent struggles with form and fitness. He suggests that a player of Mayo’s caliber doesn’t lose their talent overnight; rather, they require the right environment and tactical usage to thrive.
A Difficult Debut Season
Khanyisa Mayo’s return to South African football on loan from Algerian side CR Belouizdad has been anything but smooth. After arriving in September 2025 with high expectations, his campaign has been hampered by niggling injuries and a lack of consistent game time.
Khanyisa Mayo: 2025/26 Statistics (as of April 23, 2026):
| Metric | Statistics |
| Appearances | 15 (All Competitions) |
| Starts | 5 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Minutes Played | Approx. 486 |
Despite these modest numbers, there was a glimmer of hope just days ago. Mayo was on the scoresheet during Chiefs’ 4–1 drubbing of Magesi FC, capitalizing on a defensive error to net his second goal of the season. For many, including Malesela, this was a reminder of the poaching instincts that saw him win the PSL Golden Boot only two seasons ago.
The Tactical Misuse?
Malesela also touched upon the “man-management” aspect of Mayo’s stay at Naturena. He pointed out that it is “not nice” for a player of Mayo’s reputation to frequently start from the bench or be used sporadically.
“As a team and a coach, I would rather keep him and use him the way I would want to use him next season,” Malesela added. This suggests that the current technical setup may not be playing to Mayo’s strengths. While Chiefs have often used a fluid front three featuring the likes of Pule Mmodi and Mduduzi Shabalala, Mayo is a traditional spearhead who requires consistent service and a stable run in the starting XI to build rhythm.
The “Soweto Derby” Warning
Mayo himself has been vocal about the pressure at Chiefs, recently calling for “calm heads” ahead of the massive April 26 Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates. He attributed the team’s scoring struggles not to a lack of talent, but to a lack of “pure luck” in front of goal.
This perspective aligns with Malesela’s view: the talent is there, but the circumstances have been unfavorable. If Chiefs decide to trigger the buyout clause in his loan agreement, they would be betting on the “Mayo of old” returning once he has a full pre-season and a stabilized role in the team.
The Management’s Dilemma
The Kaizer Chiefs management now faces a $10-million-rand question. Do they invest in a player who has struggled to hit the ground running, or do they look for a fresh start in the transfer market?
If they follow Dan Malesela’s advice, they will prioritize the security of depth. With the 2026/27 season likely to include a return to CAF competition, having a proven PSL goalscorer like Mayo—even one in a “slump”—is a safety net that few other clubs can afford.
As Malesela puts it, the grass isn’t always greener: “Where are you going to find a striker?”
Why this advice matters now
With the transfer window opening in less than two months, the “Mayo decision” will be a litmus test for the club’s new sporting strategy. Retaining Mayo would signal a commitment to rehabilitating proven local talent, while releasing him would mark a continuation of the “high-turnover” policy that has characterized Naturena in recent years.
Highlights of Khanyisa Mayo’s best goals for Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs
This video showcases the clinical finishing and movement that Dan Malesela believes makes Mayo a player too valuable for Kaizer Chiefs to release.
