Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz has three experienced strikers back to full fitness. Khanyisa Mayo, Flávio da Silva and Etiosa Ighodaro have all recovered, The South African reported.
Their return comes during the FIFA international break. Chiefs went into the break after a goalless draw against Golden Arrows in Mbombela.
After that 0-0 result, Da Cruz said his young attacking players needed more maturity. He has been asking for more experience in his front line.
“We have a lack of maturity in our front-line, its young players but players with a lot qualities but they have a lack of maturity, but we on the good way,” Da Cruz told the media.
The coach said he was still confident his team would start scoring. He said people watching on TV had seen a good game, even though it ended without goals.
“We need to continue on this way and we going to win game and score goals, one hundred percent,” Da Cruz said.
Together, the three forwards have played more than 400 senior matches in their careers. That gives Da Cruz far more experience to choose from in attack.
Mayo is 28 years old and has 141 career appearances and 60 goals. The South African international can play as a centre forward or on the wing.
He also played for CR Belouizdad in Algeria. In his earlier spell at Chiefs, Mayo made 10 appearances and scored two goals.
Da Silva is the oldest of the three at 30. The Guinea-Bissau international has played in Portugal and Indonesia.
He has 182 career appearances and 61 goals. Da Silva scored eight goals last season and scored again in his first match of the current campaign.
Ighodaro is 25 and comes from Nigeria. He has scored 25 goals in 97 top-flight appearances, including five goals while on loan at AmaZulu FC.
According to The South African, Ighodaro has won 90% of his aerial duels. His passing accuracy stands at 77.1%.
The publication said his strength in the air could help Chiefs when opponents sit back and defend deep. It could also help when the team needs to play more directly.
Chiefs have used several younger players in attack this season. The return of the three older forwards gives Da Cruz different options in the final third.
Kaizer Chiefs have scored 12 goals in seven Betway Premiership matches so far this season.
Source: this article is based on reporting by The South African. Image: The South African. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.