KAIZER Chiefs striker Khanyisa Mayo is drawing Soweto derby wisdom from his father, former Chiefs forward Patrick Mayo.
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In a fixture that sharpens emotion and shortens memory, Khanyisa Mayo turns to family wisdom, steadying himself for a Soweto Derby that asks strikers to be brave before they are brilliant.
The Kaizer Chiefs striker is leaning on his father’s teachings as the countdown to the derby intensifies, embracing heritage as both shield and compass in football’s most unforgiving domestic fixture.
Set for Saturday’s clash against Orlando Pirates, Mayo’s preparation has been as psychological as it has been physical.
In a rivalry where moments decide reputations, the 26-year-old is drawing calm from a man who has lived the noise from the inside — his father, former Chiefs forward Patrick Mayo.
“He’s definitely there to put me on course every day, to not only calm my nerves but to show me the importance of the derby and to collect maximum points,” Mayo said on Thursday.
“He has played this game, he has won this particular game as well, so he’s there to show me how to behave in front of goals because he’s played as a striker and a defender. It also becomes a psychological thing.”
Legacy carries weight at the Glamour Boys, and Mayo understands that wearing black and gold invites comparison as much as expectation.
Chiefs’ recent weeks have tested resolve — high-profile defeats across competitions have disrupted rhythm — and the league table leaves little room for error.
Amakhosi trail Pirates and log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by eight points, a gap that sharpens urgency without extinguishing belief.
“I don’t think we’ve lost it,” Mayo said.
“The game of football is about win, lose or draw. We couldn’t pick up maximum points in certain games, yes, but that’s a minor setback. We can catch up to the top three teams in front of us.
“We just have to focus on the game on Saturday. If we can get the three points, it reduces the gap to five points with a game in hand.”
On loan from Algerian outfit CR Belouizdad, Mayo has shown flashes without fully matching the billing. Injury interruptions and fierce competition have demanded patience, particularly with attacking teammates finding form.
Fabio Da Silva and Glody Lilepo have impressed, raising the bar and narrowing opportunities. Mayo is candid about where he stands.
“Yes, definitely, Chiefs are yet to see the best of me,” he said.
“For now, I’m competing with six other people that are doing well. They score almost every game and I just have to be happy for whoever is playing right now. When it’s my time to shine, they’ll do the same.”
In a derby, patience is rarely praised — impact is. Yet Mayo’s perspective hints at maturity forged by lineage and experience. His father’s counsel is not about guarantees, but about readiness: movement in the box, clarity in chaos, and calm when chances finally arrive.
The Soweto Derby will not wait for confidence to find players. It demands it. For Khanyisa Mayo, the lesson from legacy is simple: when the moment comes, be present — and be decisive.