Ex-Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cassius Mailula has finally scored his debut goal for Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship. Mailula’s goal comes after a struggle to break into the first team and starting line-up under coach John Herdman. The former Masandawana youth development product left the reigning DStv Premiership champions in July last year but has been starved of regular game time.
So far, Mailula has made a single appearance for the side since completing his move from Sundowns in July 2023. Resulting from his struggles, Mailula also lost his place in the Bafana Bafana squad.
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Bafana Star Bags Debut Goal for Toronto
In a video circulating on social media, Mailula can be seen joined by his teammates as they celebrate the goal in a true South African dance. The goal comes two after Herdman said it is difficult for the South African to play as he competes with Italian Federico Bernardeschi and former Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne.
Mailula made a rare start for the Canadian side against Simcoe County Rovers in a Canadian Championship clash. The goal came as Toronto ran riot and demolished Somcoe County Rovers 5-0 on Wednesday.
Mailula calmly turned the ball home in the 30th minute to put his side 2-0 up, given a chance in the Toronto starting line-up by head coach Herdman, who has given Mailula just 11 minutes off the bench in this season’s Major League Soccer campaign in the United States.
Mailula was then shown dancing in front of the home fans after the match.
The Canadian Championship is a knockout competition, with Toronto reaching the quarter-finals. The winner gets a place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Will He Convince Broos and Get More Game Time at Toronto?
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With Hugo Broos preparing to name his preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe, Mailula could convince the coach. In addition, the 22-year-old may well need this tournament for game time as Toronto head coach Herdman has already suggested there are too many strikers ahead of him in the MLS pecking order.
Nicknamed Cash Money, Mailula’s move has also been criticised by Bafana coach Broos for this same reason. Meanwhile, the Limpopo-born striker’s next match with Toronto is an MLS match at Orlando City on Saturday.
“You have a good agent when that agent is looking out for you, but if you have an agent who is always looking at his wallet then you don’t have it [a good agent]. And I am afraid Mailula does not have a good agent,” Broos said in October. When you let him go to Toronto FC where you know there are two Italian internationals [Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne] and there is also Canadian international Deandre Kerr, [it’s not advisable].”
“You let a young player like that who has 15 games’ experience in the PSL [go to that club], that is not the right choice. Mailula is not playing, he will not play and you will see that even in the next months as competition finishes in America.”
Fans React to Mailula’s Goal:
The fans on social media also shared their views on the young Bafana striker’s goal, some saying the coach must give him more regular game time. Zee said: “Give the young man game time, we want him to play for our national team like before he joined your team.”
Azanian Authi wrote: “Cassius just needs a coach that will believe in him even though he makes bits of mistakes…Then he will die for you.”
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