Cape Town City FC assistant coach Lebogang Manyama has explained why it’s difficult to replace talented striker Khanyisa Mayo.
Following an impressive showing in the previous Premiership season, Mayo completed a move to CR Belouizdad. The Algerian side beat Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns to the signature of Mayo.
Mayo scored 11 goals and contributed two assists in 33 appearances across all competitions for CT City in the 2023/24 campaign.
The Bafana Bafana international has proven his scoring prowess in the previous seasons after consistently fighting for the Top Goal Scorer award in the SA elite league.
Mayo spent three seasons with Cape Town City FC after signing from Richards Bay FC at the start of the 2021/22 season.
Meanwhile, Mayo is joining Percy Tau, Fagrie Lakay, and Ellias Mokwana as South African players plying their trade in North Africa.
WHAT DID LEBOGANG MANYAMA SAY ABOUT MAYO?
With City beginning life without the high-rated attacker in the new season, Manyama has admitted that Mayo is a difficult player to replace because of his qualities.
“Look you can never replace Mayo, it’s impossible to do that. I don’t want to put pressure on other players to say that we replaced him,” Manyama said.
“Mayo has a natural ability like his dad [Patrick Mayo] to score goals; for me, I don’t think he’ll struggle to score goals at his new club.
“I mean, he has already scored three goals in three friendly matches, so that guy can score goals, but the players that are in our team, I believe they will also score goals.
“Amadou [Soukouna] is coming in as a different striker from Mayo and I feel Soukouna is a striker we didn’t have.
“Mayo is a mover, and Amadou is more like a guy who can link up play, So we need to secure the ball even more. We’re looking to play different systems to face different teams. I can’t really say we replaced Mayo, his goals are special but I think we’ve done well to bring players who will take us to higher level.”
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