Extra Time: Khanyiso Mayo has done more than enough to play for Bafana Bafana, argues Michael Madyira.
For the better part of his time as Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos has complained about his misfiring forwards.
Even after South Africa finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, their biggest shortcoming was in front of goal – as shown by Evidence Makgopa, who led Bafana’s attack and started all their seven games but came home with only a single goal.
Another striker, Zakhele Lepasa, featured in all seven matches but failed to score.
Cyprus-based forward Mihlali Mayambela also fired blanks in five appearances.
These unpalatable facts have sparked a debate about the omission of Cape Town City attacker Khanyisa Mayo.
The 25-year-old has been consistent in the past two seasons, first by finishing last term as the Premier Soccer League joint-top goal-scorer with Peter Shalulile at 12 goals each.
He picked up from where he left off and is the current campaign’s leading scorer with eight goals – and 20 PSL goals in the last two seasons.
During the same period, Makgopa and Lepasa scored a total of 10 league goals between them.
This begs the question. What does Mayo need to do to be trusted by Broos?
He has proven that he is not a fly-by-night goal-scorer so it doesn’t make sense when he is overlooked by the national team coach.
A striker’s capabilities are mainly measured by the number of goals he or she scores at a respectable level of consistency, which Mayo has proven.
Bafana has international friendly matches against Andorra and Algeria in March.
It would be a travesty for Broos to again ignore Mayo, who was also on target in City’s Nedbank Cup clash with SuperSport on Tuesday evening.
Pictured above: Cape Town City forward Khanyisa Mayo.
Image source: Cape Town City
