Khanyisa Mayo: Bafana Bafana star faces uncertain future
CR Belouizdad forward, Khanyisa Mayo. Photo Credit- Goal.com
In South African football, few stories carry the emotional weight and layered complexity of Khanyisa Mayo current predicament. The 27-year-old Bafana Bafana striker, once a shining star in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) with Cape Town City, has been deregistered by CR Belouizdad in Algeria, a move confirmed by his former coach Sead Ramovic on September 3, 2025. After a challenging debut season in North Africa, where Mayo scored six goals in 41 appearances, the decision not to register him for the 2025/26 campaign has left the former PSL Golden Boot winner in search of a new club. With his father, Patrick Mayo, a Kaizer Chiefs legend, openly supporting a potential move to the Soweto giants, Mayo’s next chapter is steeped in both opportunity and uncertainty, raising questions about his career trajectory and the pressures facing South African players abroad.
Khanyisa Mayo dream move turned sour
Mayo’s transfer to CR Belouizdad in August 2024 was hailed as a bold step for South African football, marking him as the first player from the country to join an Algerian club. Fresh off a stellar PSL campaign, where he showcased his lethal finishing and versatility, Mayo arrived with high expectations, mentored by Algerian legend Islam Slimani. However, the reality was far from the dream. Despite featuring in 41 matches across all competitions, Mayo struggled to secure a regular starting role, often playing out of position on the wing or as a No. 10 behind Slimani. “It’s a different challenge, and I’m up for it,” Mayo said optimistically on the Soccerbeat podcast last November, but his goalless start in seven games and limited starts, only three in domestic and CAF Champions League matches, hinted at deeper struggles. Ramovic, who coached Mayo at TS Galaxy before joining Belouizdad, made the tough call to deregister him, citing timing, role fit, and the club’s strategic needs. “It was not an easy decision,” Ramovic told iDiski Times. “I have the utmost respect for him, but I believe a new challenge is best for him.”
Mayo’s potential transfer to Kaizer Chiefs
The news of Mayo’s deregistration has reignited speculation about a move to Kaizer Chiefs, a club that has long coveted the Umtata-born forward. The connection is deeply personal: Mayo’s father, Patrick, a former Chiefs striker who scored over 60 goals during an 11-year stint, revealed in July 2025 that the club had reached out to seek his blessing for Khanyisa’s potential transfer. “It would be a historic moment,” Patrick told Kick Off, expressing pride at the prospect of his son donning the iconic gold and black jersey, preferably with his father’s old No. 21. The timing seems ripe, with Chiefs, under coach Nasreddine Nabi, seeking to bolster their attack after a ninth-place finish last season. Mayo’s agent, Basia Michaels, previously confirmed that Chiefs were mere hours away from signing him in 2023 before Belouizdad swooped in, underscoring the club’s persistent interest. For Mayo, a return to South Africa could mean a chance to follow in his father’s footsteps and reignite his Bafana Bafana career, which has stalled since his last appearance in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Algeria in March 2024.
The weight of expectations
Mayo’s journey reflects the broader challenges faced by South African players venturing abroad. The move to Algeria was meant to elevate his profile, with aspirations of competing in the CAF Champions League and earning a consistent Bafana Bafana call-up under coach Hugo Broos. Yet, the reality of adapting to a new league, culture, and tactical system proved daunting. Fans on social media have expressed mixed sentiments, with some praising Mayo’s resilience and others questioning whether he can recapture his PSL form. “He’s a quality player, but Europe or a top PSL club might suit him better,” one user posted, echoing a sentiment that Mayo’s skill set, marked by sharp finishing and intelligent movement, may not have been fully utilized in Algeria. The deregistration, coupled with Belouizdad’s exhaustion of their foreign player quota, as reported by Foot Africa, leaves Mayo at a career crossroads, with potential loan moves to Algerian clubs like CS Constantine or MC Oran also on the table. However, a return to the PSL, particularly to Chiefs, could offer both redemption and a platform to reclaim his national team spot.
What’s next for Mayo
As Khanyisa Mayo navigates this pivotal moment, the football world watches with bated breath. Ramovic’s parting words “I truly wish him every success in the next chapter of his career” carry a bittersweet tone, acknowledging Mayo’s professionalism while signaling the end of his Algerian adventure. For Kaizer Chiefs fans, the prospect of Mayo joining the Amakhosi is tantalizing, especially given the club’s unbeaten start to the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season and their need for a proven goalscorer to complement new signings like Flavio Silva. Yet, the pressure to perform at a club of Chiefs’ stature, combined with the weight of his father’s legacy, adds complexity to Mayo’s decision. Whether he chooses to stay in Algeria, return to South Africa, or explore opportunities elsewhere, Mayo’s talent and determination remain undeniable. As he stands on the brink of a new chapter, South African football holds its breath, hoping this Bafana Bafana star can rediscover the spark that once made him a household name.
