Kaizer Chiefs forward Khanyisa Mayo will be scratching his head about his missed opportunities ahead of the next Soweto Derby on Saturday. The biggest football match on the domestic calendar takes place at FNB Stadium, and Mayo is yet to play a single minute this season because of injury.

He underwent a hernia operation during the off-season. Although he returned to training in September, he has still not made his competitive return. The Soweto Derby is a fixture he has never featured in for the club. He missed both league meetings against Orlando Pirates last season while he was on loan from Algerian side CR Belouizdad.

Saturday’s game will be the 50th match since Mayo scored on his Chiefs debut against Marumo Gallants last season. In that time he has appeared in only 15 fixtures, giving him a match-day involvement rate of just 30 percent. He has played only 680 minutes out of a possible 4440, which works out to 15 percent of available playing time.

Last season proved difficult for the striker. He arrived at Naturena in September after the campaign had already started, so he missed pre-season with the team. That late start limited his rhythm and he completed a full 90 minutes only once across his 15 appearances.

Despite the limited impact, Kaizer Chiefs decided he was worth keeping. The club turned his loan into a permanent transfer from CR Belouizdad and paid an estimated R9,5 million for his services. Even so, his opportunities this season remain restricted. Chiefs have already played eight league games, and Mayo’s game time will come only in domestic competitions once he is fully fit.

The numbers paint a clear picture of a player who has struggled to establish himself at the club. With the Soweto Derby days away and no appearances yet this season, the weight of Mayo’s absence has become a significant point for Amakhosi supporters and the coaching staff. How he recovers and contributes when he finally returns will determine whether the investment in him pays off.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2115763134577160681