Kaizer Chiefs forward Khanyisa Mayo faces time on the sidelines after limping off against Siwelele FC in the Betway Premiership.
The 27-year-old could be sidelined for anywhere between three and twelve weeks after picking up a hamstring injury in the Betway Premiership draw with Siwelele FC this past Wednesday. Chiefs are yet to issue an official report on the extent of the injury, leaving fans anxious about their star forward’s recovery time.
Mayo went down in the 80th minute, clutching his hamstring and was stretchered off shortly after. At full-time, the forward needed assistance to reach the dressing room, visibly limping and in pain, a worrying sight for Amakhosi supporters.
Early signs suggest the forward may have suffered a hamstring tendon injury, which can keep players out for varying lengths depending on its severity. Chiefs are yet to release an official statement, but according to the Cleveland Clinic, recovery times can differ widely:
MAYO COULD BE OUT FOR UP TO 12 WEEKS
“A grade 1 (mild) injury may take a few days to 3 weeks, a grade 2 [moderate] injury can take 2 to 8 weeks, and a grade 3 (severe) injury can take 12 weeks or more, potentially longer if surgery is needed.”
That means Mayo could be out anywhere from three to twelve weeks, depending on the results of his medical scans.
The timing is far from ideal for Amakhosi. The former SuperSport United and Richards Bay FC star has been one of their liveliest forwards at Naturena since joining on loan from CR Belouizdad in June, where he scored six times in 41 games.
So far, he’s scored once in four appearances for Chiefs and looked sharp in attack, coming deep to get involved in play with clean touches.
Before arriving at Naturena, Mayo had proven himself as one of the Betway Premiership’s most consistent scorers, netting 11 goals in 31 games last season with Cape Town City FC and 13 in 35 the season before.
If the injury turns out to be on the severe side, Chiefs will look to the likes of Etiosa Ighodaro and Flavio da Silva. For now, Amakhosi fans will be hoping for the best.
Meanwhile, the Glamour Boys will battle AS Simba in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary qualifiers after a goalless draw in Lubumbashi, DRC, last weekend. The return leg will be on Sunday at the Dobsonville Stadium at 15:00.
RELATED STORY: Khanyisa Mayo spells out his Bafana ambitions