Tinkler on how City held on to Sundowns & Chiefs target

Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler has clarified how it was easy to hold on to Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns target Khanyisa Mayo.

Mayo was heavily linked with a move to the two Gauteng clubs, Sundowns and Chiefs but City managed to fend off the interest.

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Speaking during the launch of the 2023/24 DStv Premiership season, Tinkler said Mayo didn’t want to leave City despite interest from Sundowns and Chiefs.

TINKLER ON HOW CHIEFS AND SUNDOWNS FAILED TO LAND TARGET

The Bafana Bafana legend and former Maritzburg United coach, Tinkler said it was easy to deny Sundowns and Chiefs to get Mayo’s signature.

Just before heading to pre-season, City announced that Mayo has signed a long-term deal with the Mother City-based club.

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“Everybody keeps asking how difficult it was to hold on to Mayo,” said Tinkler.

“But Khanyisa went into the chairman’s office and said, ‘Chairman, I don’t want to go anywhere’.

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“So, the ones who are making it difficult are the media… Mayo is committed, he is at training everyday working hard.

“And he is focused on one thing only, scoring 20-plus goals for us this season. That is the target that he has set for himself.”

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The seasoned coach, Tinkler also touched on their ambitions as a club, saying he hopes the Bafana star can score goals regularly.

With Mayo having netted 12 goals last season and shared the Top Goalscorer Award with Peter Shalulile of Sundowns, Tinkler wants more.

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“If he gets the 20 goals, I will be happy, that would be eight more than he scored for us last season,” added Tinkler.

“If we add the eight goals to our tally for last season then we would have been level with Pirates.”