Cassius Mailula

Cassius Mailula
Personal information
Full name Cassius Tumelo Mailula
Date of birth (2001-06-12) 12 June 2001 (age 22)
Place of birth Ga-Molepo, Limpopo, South Africa
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker, midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Toronto FC
Number 12
Youth career
2016–2022 Mamelodi Sundowns
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Mamelodi Sundowns 18 (9)
2023– Toronto FC 3 (0)
International career‡
2023– South Africa 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 July 2023

Cassius Tumelo Mailula (born 12 June 2001) is a South African professional soccer player who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

Early life

In 2016, he joined the Mamelodi Sundowns, after being scouted at the Mandela Youth Challenge in Soweto, where he was named Player Of The Tournament and won the Golden Boot award.[1]

Club career

Mailula made his senior debut for Mamelodi Sundowns in the South African Premier Division during a 1–0 win against Chippa United in September 2022.[2][3] He scored his first senior goals on 14 October 2022, in a match against La Passe FC in the CAF Champions League, netting a hat-trick.[4][5] He scored his first league goals on 25 October, netting a brace against Maritzburg United.[6] Mailula was subsequently named the league's Young Player of the Season for his debut campaign.[7]

In July 2023, Mailula signed with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, signing through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.[8][9] He made his debut on 26 August 2024, in a substitute appearance, against the Columbus Crew.[10]

International career

In March 2023, Mailula was called up to the South Africa national team for the first time for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches.[11][12] He made his debut on 24 March 2023 against Liberia.[13]

Career statistics

As of match played 7 October 2023[14]
Club Season League Playoffs National Cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goal Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mamelodi Sundowns 2022–23 South African Premier Division 18 9 — 2 0 10[b] 7 2[c] 0 32 16
Toronto FC 2023 Major League Soccer 3 0 — 0 0 — 0 0 3 0
Career total 21 9 0 0 2 0 10 7 2 0 35 16
  1. ^ Includes Nedbank Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in CAF Champions League
  3. ^ Appearances in MTN 8

Honours

Mamelodi Sundowns

Individual

References

  1. ^ Rabothe, Tshepo (24 August 2022). "Who is Cassius Mailula – the uknown Sundowns substitute?". Far Post.
  2. ^ "Player Analysis: Cassius Mailula". Breaking the Lines. 11 May 2023.
  3. ^ Sithole, Sinethemba (9 September 2022). "Cassius Mailula grateful after making Mamelodi Sundowns' debut". The South African.
  4. ^ Mark, Jonty (14 October 2022). "Mailula shines as Sundowns hand La Passe another pasting". The Citizen.
  5. ^ "Mailula hat-trick helps Sundowns thrash La Passe in CAF Champions League". News24. 14 October 2022.
  6. ^ Madlala, Robin-Duke (25 October 2022). "Mailula & Domingo Grab Braces As Sundowns Crush Maritzburg". iDiski Times.
  7. ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (29 May 2023). "After breakthrough season Sundowns' Mailula wants to be home with his mom". TimesLIVE.
  8. ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (25 July 2023). "'Dream come true to play against Messi': Sundowns' Mailula on move to MLS". TimesLIVE.
  9. ^ "Toronto FC sign South African forward Cassius Mailula". Toronto FC. 28 July 2023.
  10. ^ Madyauta, Terry (28 August 2023). "Former Sundowns star Cassius Mailula reflects on his MLS debut". Far Post.
  11. ^ Willis, Seth (21 March 2023). "Mailula delighted with 'surprise' Bafana Bafana call-up - 'It's always been something I wanted'". Goal. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023.
  12. ^ Strydom, Marc (7 March 2023). "Sundowns' red-hot Cassius Mailula included in Bafana squad". TimesLIVE.
  13. ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (24 March 2023). "Unconvincing Bafana stunned by Liberia as Afcon hopes fade". TimesLIVE.
  14. ^ Cassius Mailula at Soccerway
  15. ^ "Mokoena, Seleng win top honours at PSL awards". Premier Soccer League. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.