Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has shared his thoughts on Khanyisa Mayo and provided an update on the striker’s readiness to make his debut for the club.
Speaking from the club’s headquarters in Naturena, Nabi addressed the media on Monday morning before his squad took to the training pitch for their scheduled session.
Chiefs are set to return to action after the FIFA international break with a top-of-the-table clash against Sekhukhune United. The highly anticipated Betway Premiership match will be played on Tuesday night [7:30] at FNB Stadium, with three crucial points up for grabs.
Nabi’s troops, currently in third place, will be looking to maintain their impressive unbeaten record, having won four and drawn one of their opening five games, all while keeping five clean sheets. They face a formidable opponent in Sekhukhune, who sit just above them in second place on goal difference, and are also yet to taste defeat this season.
Adding to the excitement, Nabi spoke about the club’s latest signing, Mayo, who is expected to bolster their attacking options.
Mayo was recently unveiled after joining Amakhosi on a season-long loan from Algerian side CR Belouizdad. The striker’s transfer came after he was deemed surplus to requirements by Belouizdad coach Sead Ramovic and was not registered for the current season, opening the door for his return to South Africa. The loan agreement also includes an option for Chiefs to make the move permanent.
COACH NABI BACKS MAYO TO MAKE QUICK IMPACT
Nabi has noted that Mayo views the Amakhosi move as an opportunity of a lifetime, which provides added motivation for him to succeed.
“About Khanyiso Mayo, he is a player for the first season of Nabi. The club was working to get him from Cape Town City FC, but the deal didn’t materialise as he went to Algeria. But he is a boy who, from a young age, has been a Khosi fan, his family as well,” said Nabi.
“And when he came here, he feels that this is an opportunity of his life, there is no prize on that, to have a player like that, a player that has been a fan of the team that he is going to play for because you know that he is going to do everything he can to win and he has the experience.”
The Amakhosi coach also believes that, given Mayo’s experience playing for high-pressure clubs, his adaptation to the team will be quick, and he is confident that the new signing will bring a new dimension to their style of play.
“He played for teams that have a lot of pressure, like where he was in Algeria, and we believe that his adaptation is going to be very quick. He was well welcomed by his teammates, and we are hopeful that he is going to bring a different style of play.”
NABU CONFIRMS MAYO UNAVAILABLE FOR SEKHUKHUNE MATCH
Meanwhile, Nabi also confirmed that Mayo will not be available for the tie against Sekhukhune as he is still awaiting his paperwork. In terms of injuries, only Given Msimango and Rushwin Dortley are unavailable for selection.
“I was not at training yesterday because I was in Angola to watch our opponents,” added Nabi, as Chiefs are set to face Kabuscorp S.C. in the CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday.
“We will look at the reports of the players today, but I have the group. I don’t have any players with injuries apart from those with long-term injuries: Given Msimango and Rushwin Dortley.
“Apart from them, Khanyisa’s registration is not ready for this game [Sekhukhune], not yet, but physically he is ready, because before three to four days, he trained with CR Belouizdad in Algeria.”
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