When Eliezer Mayenda arrived on Wearside in the summer of 2023, it would’ve been nigh on impossible to predict the place he would earn in Sunderland folklore.
Alongside this, we couldn’t have predicted that our final pre-season game against Stade Rennais would actually see Mayenda lining up for the opposition. That said, Saturday is a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to a player who evolved from a raw prospect into a hero at Wembley.
Although we can all be prone to focusing on Tommy Watson and his stoppage-time winner at Wembley, it’s important to remember that it was Mayenda who stepped up when we needed a spark, dragging us level with a beautiful finish at the near post.
That goal changed the momentum of the final, setting the platform for Watson’s late drama and capping off an incredible journey for a player like Mayenda – someone who was always exciting to watch.
However, it isn’t just Wembley that we should remember Mayenda for, as he played an absolutely crucial role in our promotion to the Premier League, often being the first person to take advantage of opposition mistakes.
From the ten goals that he scored in 2024/2025, there were some memorable moments and although scoring two goals against Sheffield Wednesday at home and away stands out, it was his goal against Bristol City that I’ll always view fondly.
If you’re looking for a comparison, it was like someone had changed the difficulty setting on FIFA to “Amateur”, as Mayenda picked up the ball just outside of our own box and proceeded to take on half of Bristol City, dribbling past defenders with ease at ridiculous pace and holding up the ball brilliantly before then firing a low shot past the helpless goalkeeper.
It was a superb moment and the sort of run and finish that you wouldn’t associate with a nineteen-year-old – and that’s without even mentioning the goal against Coventry City in the first leg of the play-off semi-final, laying the foundations for the memorable “Ballard!” moment at home.
Taking advantage of a mistake from supposed Premier League-ready full-back Milan van Ewijk, who provided a misplaced pass that Kieffer Moore would’ve been proud of, Mayenda was able to take the ball around the goalkeeper and give us a crucial lead away from home.
Whilst we were all certain that Mayenda had the potential to step up to the demands of the Premier League, there were questions as to whether he could replicate this form in a more physical league of a higher standard.
As we’ve seen already this year, it can be incredibly easy for ill-informed journalists and pundits to provide baseless predictions (“second-season syndrome” being a key one at this moment in time). Questions were asked of our recruitment, but we also had questions asked about our players who were looking to step up, Mayenda included.
It didn’t take long for him to answer those critics.
Our opening game of the 2025/2026 season against West Ham United will live long in the memory, with a fantastic atmosphere standing out in particular, but it was Mayenda who scored the first goal of our new Premier League era.
Naturally, as we look to progress, we’re finding as a fanbase that there’s very little time for sentiment.
As Brian Brobbey’s stock rose over the course of last season, Mayenda saw limited time on the pitch and although he scored two goals, he wasn’t able to push on in the way that we would’ve envisaged at the start of the season.
Despite this, we were able to benefit as a club, securing a significant transfer fee from Stade Rennais. It was a move that benefited all parties, and I’m excited to see how Mayenda develops in Ligue 1. Saturday provides us all with the perfect opportunity to celebrate the contributions that he made at Sunderland AFC.
When he signed a contract extension, Kristjaan Speakman summarised things in a succinct manner, describing Mayenda as “a great character who understands our club”.
In a ridiculously emotional leaving statement posted on social media, Mayenda himself provided some key reflections, describing playing for Sunderland as a “privilege” and being able to share “unforgettable moments”, including a “magical day at Wembley with all of you”.
As we’ve seen with so many players, Sunderland can really get under your skin. This was no exception and, as Saturday gets closer, let’s make sure of two things.
Firstly, I hope that as many of us as possible are at the match as the “proper football” gets ever closer. Most importantly, though, let’s make sure that the “Oi, big man!” chant enjoys a serious run out.
Mayenda deserves a proper send-off, and this is the perfect opportunity at the Stadium of Light.
Oi, big man! What’s your name?!