Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has backed Khanyisa Mayo to make a telling impact for the remainder of the season after the striker netted his second Betway Premiership goal of the campaign in Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Magesi FC at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Mayo, who has battled injury disruptions throughout the season, came off the bench to head home a Reeve Frosler cross in the 83rd minute – putting the gloss on a convincing away victory that stretched Chiefs’ winning run in the league to five consecutive matches.
Ben Youssef made clear that the goal was no more than Mayo deserved given what he has put in behind the scenes.
“True, he’s been working hard a lot, he’s been unlucky with one or two injuries, then he’s back, he’s been performing very well in the training sessions, he’s been fighting,” the co-coach said when asked by iDiski Times about Mayo’s celebration.
Despite finding his rhythm again in training and pushing for his place, Mayo has had to wait for the moments to come in recent fixtures; something his coach acknowledged with sympathy.
“He’s been a little bit unlucky in the last few games that he didn’t score – but I think today is his second goal and he will help the team a lot.”
With Chiefs locked in a push for a top-three finish and the business end of the season approaching, Ben Youssef will be hoping Wednesday’s strike is the moment that fully reignites Mayo’s campaign.
