Khanyisa Mayo fulfilled a lifelong ambition to follow in his illustrious father’s footsteps when he put pen to paper, signing for Kaizer Chiefs recently.

The 27-year-old joins Amakhosi on loan from Algerian outfit CR Belouizdad, adding further firepower to the team that has won four of their five matches in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership to date.

“It is a dream come true,” Mayo tells www.kaizerchiefs.com, “As I have been saying in all my interviews, the only team I would come back for is Kaizer Chiefs. The Club has a great history. My father is a part of that great history, so I wanted to play for the biggest team in the country, in Africa, in the world, I can say, because Kaizer Chiefs is the biggest team in the world to me.”

Khanyisa’s father, Patrick, was a fan favourite during the mid-2000s, winning numerous trophies - including two league titles - in his time at Kaizer Chiefs, and now his talented offspring aims to revive those glory days.

“I have come here to help the Club achieve its ambitions. So, I am focusing on what is at hand and trying to implement any task I am called upon to do,“ he says.

The imposing striker reveals his excitement on discovering the Club he wished to play for were interested in him: “To be honest, I couldn’t sleep. I said to my agent, “Let’s make it possible. There’s no other team I want to play for. I had other offers, but I only wanted to come back home, and Kaizer Chiefs is my home. This is where I grew up, Naturena.

“The first person I called was my mother, who was sitting with my father, and they both jumped for joy and celebrated that I would be joining my father in continuing the legacy of the Club. The fact that he came before me adds a bit of pressure for me, but it’s something I grew up with, so I’m used to it.”

The opportunity almost came a few years ago when Mayo was playing for Cape Town City, but it didn’t materialise, much to his disappointment.

“I was pretty sad,” he admits, “because I wanted to come to Chiefs. I have always felt the Club is part of my DNA because my dad played here for the biggest football institution, and I wanted to emulate him and achieve success at Kaizer Chiefs. But it didn’t happen, and I realised I had to go somewhere else before I could come here, and that’s what has happened. Now I am here.”

Acknowledging the unmatched passion and loyalty of the Khosi Nation, Mayo concludes with a message to his new admirers, “My aim is for the fans to have a wonderful season with me involved in the team. You can expect my best efforts to score goals for the team and work hard to help the Club deliver success for our amazing supporters, creating unforgettable memories. Amakhosi 4 Life!”