CR Belouizdad head coach sends message to Kaizer Chiefs and Khanyisa Mayo after Algerian giants decision to offload Bafana Bafana forward - 'Mentality decides whether you can stay there'

Bafana Bafana international Khanyisa Mayo left Cape Town City for the Algerian outfit CR Belouizdad at the beginning of the 2024/25 season.

However, he struggled to settle in North Africa, eventually scoring just six goals in the 41 games played across all competitions.

Most of his appearances were from the bench, explaining why coach Sead Ramovic opted to leave him out of his plans.

Kaizer Chiefs capitalised on that opportunity to get their man as Ramovic justifies his decision. 

"Khanyisa [Mayo] is a quality striker and a real professional, but every player needs the right conditions to reach his best level. With us, his role was limited, and as a forward, you can’t grow without rhythm, confidence, and consistent minutes," he told Soccer Laduma.

"At Chiefs, he will get, hopefully, that platform, and that’s why this move is the best step for him. As a head coach, my responsibility is to make decisions that respect the player’s career while also keeping the club moving forward, and this was the right solution for both sides," Ramovic added.

Ramovic has, however, tipped Mayo to deliver for the Glamour Boys.

"I know South African football very well, and Chiefs are a special club with massive expectations. For Khanyisa, it won’t be easy because the pressure there is also high. Even if smaller than what we face here at Belouizdad.

"But I believe he has the qualities to succeed. In the end, talent opens the door, but mentality decides whether you can stay there. If he embraces the pressure, he has every chance to make it," he concluded.

Mayo knows the Premier Soccer League well from his time at Cape Town City, and is not expected to take a lot of time to settle at Chiefs. 

However, he will have to show he has what it takes to be considered ahead of the likes of Etiosa Ighodaro, Flavio Silva, Tashreeq Morris, Ashley du Preez, and Wandile Duba, who also want to get involved regularly.

Amakhosi are working hard to get back to the top, explaining why the Chiefs hierarchy have improved the quality and depth of the squad for coach Nasreddine Nabi to work with.

On Tuesday, Chiefs and Sekhukhune United meet in the Premier Soccer League's top-of-the-table clash.

So far, Amakhosi are the only team that hasn't conceded a goal in the five league games they have played, and won, meaning Mayo and other recent newcomers will have to prove their worth to be drafted into the first team.