Khanyisa Mayo’s limited Chiefs impact underlined by another Soweto Derby absence

Khanyisa Mayo will miss another Soweto Derby for Kaizer Chiefs when the domestic game’s biggest fixture takes place at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

The forward has not played for Chiefs this season after undergoing a hernia operation during the off-season. Although he returned to training in September, he has yet to make a competitive appearance.

Mayo also missed both league meetings with Orlando Pirates last season while he was on loan at Chiefs from CR Belouizdad, meaning he has still not featured in the fixture since joining the club.

His absence comes as his limited contribution since arriving at Naturena becomes increasingly clear. Saturday’s match will be the 50th game since Mayo made his scoring debut for Kaizer Chiefs against Marumo Gallants last season.

However, he has played in only 15 of those 50 matches, giving him a match-day involvement rate of 30%.

Mayo has appeared in just 680 of the 4,440 minutes available to him since joining the club, which amounts to 15% of the total playing time.

Difficult start at Chiefs

The forward’s first season was disrupted from the outset. He joined Chiefs in September, after the campaign had already begun, and therefore did not have the benefit of a pre-season with the club.

That lack of preparation was followed by limited involvement during the season. Of his 15 appearances, Mayo completed 90 minutes only once.

Despite those struggles, Chiefs decided that he remained a worthwhile investment. The club converted his loan move into a permanent transfer from CR Belouizdad, paying an estimated R9,5 million to secure his services.

The decision means Mayo remains part of the club’s plans, but his chances of gaining regular minutes this season will be restricted to domestic competition.

Chiefs have already played eight league matches, reducing the number of opportunities available to the forward once he is fit to return.

For now, Mayo will watch another Soweto Derby from the sidelines, extending a difficult beginning to his career at Naturena and leaving him still waiting for his first appearance in one of South African football’s most significant matches.