Cassius Mailula
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 | 5 | (0) |
2024– | → Toronto FC II (loan) | 1 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2023– | South Africa | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 June 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 Academy, 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][2]
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.[3][4] 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.[5][6] He scored his first league goals on 25 October, netting a brace against Maritzburg United.[7] Mailula was subsequently named the league's Young Player of the Season for his debut campaign.[8]
In July 2023, Mailula signed with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, signing through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.[9][10] He made his debut on 26 August 2023, in a substitute appearance, against the Columbus Crew.[11] 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.[12] in 2024, he spent some time on loan with the second team, Toronto FC II, in MLS Next Pro.[13]
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.[14][15] He made his debut on 24 March 2023 against Liberia.[16]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 15 June 2024[17]
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 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | ||
Total | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |||
Toronto FC II (loan) | 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
Career total | 24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 17 |
- ^ Includes Nedbank Cup and Canadian Championship
- ^ 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 unknown Sundowns substitute?". Far Post.
- ^ "Mailula backed by teammate for bright future". Kick Off. 29 October 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Toronto FC loan Cassius Mailula to Toronto FC II". Toronto FC. 28 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.