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Cassius Mailula

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Cassius Mailula
Personal information
Full name Cassius Tumelo Mailula
Date of birth (2001-06-12) 12 June 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Ga-Molepo, Limpopo, South Africa
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Wydad AC
(on loan from Toronto FC)
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)
2024– → Wydad AC (loan) 6 (1)
International career‡
2023– South Africa 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 November 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 Moroccan club Wydad AC in the Botola on loan from Major League Soccer club Toronto FC and the South Africa national team.

Early life

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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

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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] In August 2024, he went on loan with Moroccan Botola club Wydad AC through 31 July 2025, with an option for a permanent transfer at the conclusion of the loan, reuniting him with Rhulani Mokwena, who was his coach with the Mamelodi Sundowns.[14] He scored his first goal for Wydad on 3 November 2024, netting a late winner in a 1-0 victory over FUS Rabat.[15]

International career

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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.[16][17] He made his debut on 24 March 2023 against Liberia.[18]

Career statistics

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As of match played 15 June 2024[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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
  1. ^ Includes Nedbank Cup and Canadian Championship
  2. ^ Appearances in CAF Champions League
  3. ^ Appearances in MTN 8

Honours

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Mamelodi Sundowns

Individual

References

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  1. ^ Rabothe, Tshepo (24 August 2022). "Who is Cassius Mailula – the unknown Sundowns substitute?". Far Post.
  2. ^ "Mailula backed by teammate for bright future". Kick Off. 29 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Player Analysis: Cassius Mailula". Breaking the Lines. 11 May 2023.
  4. ^ Sithole, Sinethemba (9 September 2022). "Cassius Mailula grateful after making Mamelodi Sundowns' debut". The South African.
  5. ^ Mark, Jonty (14 October 2022). "Mailula shines as Sundowns hand La Passe another pasting". The Citizen.
  6. ^ "Mailula hat-trick helps Sundowns thrash La Passe in CAF Champions League". News24. 14 October 2022.
  7. ^ Madlala, Robin-Duke (25 October 2022). "Mailula & Domingo Grab Braces As Sundowns Crush Maritzburg". iDiski Times.
  8. ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (29 May 2023). "After breakthrough season Sundowns' Mailula wants to be home with his mom". TimesLIVE.
  9. ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (25 July 2023). "'Dream come true to play against Messi': Sundowns' Mailula on move to MLS". TimesLIVE.
  10. ^ "Toronto FC sign South African forward Cassius Mailula". Toronto FC. 28 July 2023.
  11. ^ Madyauta, Terry (28 August 2023). "Former Sundowns star Cassius Mailula reflects on his MLS debut". Far Post.
  12. ^ "Cassius Mailula scores first goal for Toronto FC in thrashing of Simcoe County Rovers". Waking the Red. 25 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Toronto FC loan Cassius Mailula to Toronto FC II". Toronto FC. 28 April 2024.
  14. ^ Khoza, Neville (21 August 2024). "Mailula explains why he joined Rulani-coached Wydad in Morocco". The Sowetan.
  15. ^ "Mokwena Leaps To Mailula's Defence After Wydad Winner". SNL 24. 4 November 2024.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Strydom, Marc (7 March 2023). "Sundowns' red-hot Cassius Mailula included in Bafana squad". TimesLIVE.
  18. ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (24 March 2023). "Unconvincing Bafana stunned by Liberia as Afcon hopes fade". TimesLIVE.
  19. ^ Cassius Mailula at Soccerway
  20. ^ "Mokoena, Seleng win top honours at PSL awards". Premier Soccer League. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
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