Mayo during the height of his Amakhosi career. Image: BackpagePix
Former Chiefs star was forced to stop rugby and boxing
This former Kaizer Chiefs striker grew up in a boxing and rugby environment in the Eastern Cape bu,t his uncle had none of it.
Mayo during the height of his Amakhosi career. Image: BackpagePix
Once upon a time at Kaizer Chiefs was a utility player named Patrick Mayo. Without his uncle’s hard hand, Mayo might have never become a Khosi.
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HOW PATRICK MAYO GOT INTO FOOTBALL
Growing up in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, Mayo found himself in a society that was living for boxing and rugby. However, his uncle, Mthetheleli, was determined to steer the young Patrick towards the beautiful game.
“Because he was a footballer, he felt like I should also become one, but it took me some time to finally give in and join a club he used to play for a club called Young Chiefs FC,” Mayo told TimesLIVE’s Koketso Ratsatsi.
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“I preferred to watch Amakhosi on the small screen, not play for Young Chiefs. He used to beat me up for missing football sessions.
“When the team was playing and I chose to run away, he would tell me football is more of my calling, and that I ‘must stop this boxing nonsense’,” Mayo added.
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KAIZER CHIEFS CALL
The 50-year-old retired Chiefs star added to recall how Amakhosi’s Team Manager Bobby Motaung lured him to Naturena after Mayo made his name at Mthatha Bush Bucks and SuperSport United.
“I went to play for Bush Bucks and then SuperSport in 2000. I stayed for three seasons there. Then Bobby Motaung called me to hear if I could be a player at Chiefs but I wondered if it was really him,” Mayo added.
“It felt like I was dreaming. I could not even believe it was him speaking to me. I didn’t tell anyone at home about what was going on. He invited me to come to their offices the following day to discuss my contract.
“I was then given a contract and told to decide the next day. I came back with the contact signed and sealed and that’s when I told everyone close to me because it was now a sure thing,” he concluded.
You can find more articles from Siseko Gwegwe here.
