Cassius Mailula
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cassius Tumelo Mailula | ||
| Date of birth | 12 June 2001 | ||
| 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 | 4 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | South Africa | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 April 2024 ‡ 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 Major League Soccer club Toronto FC and the South Africa national team.
Early life[edit]
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[edit]
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 2023, in a substitute appearance, against the Columbus Crew.[10] He scored his first goal for the club on 24 April 2024 in a 2024 Canadian Championship match against semi-pro club Simcoe County Rovers FC.[11]
International career[edit]
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.[12][13] He made his debut on 24 March 2023 against Liberia.[14]
Career statistics[edit]
- As of match played 24 April 2024[15]
| 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 | ||
| 2024 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 16 | ||
- ^ Includes Nedbank Cup
- ^ Appearances in CAF Champions League
- ^ Appearances in MTN 8
Honours[edit]
Mamelodi Sundowns
Individual
References[edit]
- ^ Rabothe, Tshepo (24 August 2022). "Who is Cassius Mailula – the uknown Sundowns substitute?". Far Post.
- ^ "Player Analysis: Cassius Mailula". Breaking the Lines. 11 May 2023.
- ^ Sithole, Sinethemba (9 September 2022). "Cassius Mailula grateful after making Mamelodi Sundowns' debut". The South African.
- ^ Mark, Jonty (14 October 2022). "Mailula shines as Sundowns hand La Passe another pasting". The Citizen.
- ^ "Mailula hat-trick helps Sundowns thrash La Passe in CAF Champions League". News24. 14 October 2022.
- ^ Madlala, Robin-Duke (25 October 2022). "Mailula & Domingo Grab Braces As Sundowns Crush Maritzburg". iDiski Times.
- ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (29 May 2023). "After breakthrough season Sundowns' Mailula wants to be home with his mom". TimesLIVE.
- ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (25 July 2023). "'Dream come true to play against Messi': Sundowns' Mailula on move to MLS". TimesLIVE.
- ^ "Toronto FC sign South African forward Cassius Mailula". Toronto FC. 28 July 2023.
- ^ Madyauta, Terry (28 August 2023). "Former Sundowns star Cassius Mailula reflects on his MLS debut". Far Post.
- ^ "Cassius Mailula scores first goal for Toronto FC in thrashing of Simcoe County Rovers". Waking the Red. 25 April 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Strydom, Marc (7 March 2023). "Sundowns' red-hot Cassius Mailula included in Bafana squad". TimesLIVE.
- ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (24 March 2023). "Unconvincing Bafana stunned by Liberia as Afcon hopes fade". TimesLIVE.
- ^ Cassius Mailula at Soccerway
- ^ "Mokoena, Seleng win top honours at PSL awards". Premier Soccer League. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.