Bafana Bafana striker Khanyisa Mayo may be forgotten in the country but there is a big reason why his future prospects look bright.
Mayo made an unconventional move in the previous transfer window after becoming the first South African player to sign for an Algerian club, following his transfer from Cape Town City to CR Belouizdad.
The 26-year-old was in the fringes of the national team at The Citizens. However, his switch to North Africa has affected his chances of being called up, as he is yet to score for CRB.
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The former City forward has made only two domestic starts and one start in the CAF Champions League, with six other appearances coming off the bench for his Algerian side.
Mayo has found himself competing with the likes of Islam Slimani, Algeria's all-time leading goalscorer with 47 goals, who has also turned out for big clubs such as Newcastle United, Monaco, Fenerbahce, Olympique Lyon and Sporting CP, among others.
However, the left-footed striker, son of Kaizer Chiefs legend Patrick Mayo, believes playing with Slimani will only make him better.
"I'm competing with one of the prolific strikers that you've ever seen, Islam Slimani, who played at Newcastle, Leicester, Sporting. So it's a different challenge and it's a challenge that I'm up for and willing to fight for," Mayo said on SoccerBeat YouTube Channel.
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"I play next to him, sometimes I play out on the wing, sometimes I play behind him as a number ten. I was growing up watching Islam Slimani, he is one of the top strikers Algeria has ever produced.
"On a daily basis we chat, I ask him about how it is, how is the mindset in Europe. How did he manage to make it a success in Europe, because you have to rub shoulders with people who have played in the elite leagues. You want to go and play in the elite leagues, that's the main goal," Mayo concluded.
After moving to Toronto, former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cassius Mailula struggled for game-time after he found established and experienced Italian forwards Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi who played ahead of him and after one season, Mailula was signed by Wydad Casablanca on loan in the previous transfer window.
