Bafana Bafana forward Cassius Mailula has the potential to move on to Europe and could use Major League Soccer as a stepping stone, according to Rulani Mokwena.
The Mamelodi Sundowns head coach played a pivotal role in his rise from the reserve team towards securing a life-changing move to Toronto FC in the space of 12 months.
Mailula, who recently turned 22, scored 15 goals, with four assists in 31 games which earned widespread interest but it was the MLS club who came in with an offer of around €1.5-million (R30m) which secured his signature from the DStv Premiership champions.
“I think the first part, is to thank him, thank him for his incredible contribution, not just to the first team but his stint with nine years in the club, having come from the academy, he makes life for our academy and recruitment for young talented players easier,” Mokwena said in tribute to Mailula’s move to the MLS.
“Now… he’s the flagship. It says it’s possible to go to Sundowns, and not only to Sundowns in the academy but to get a promotion to the first team and to make it, and also go overseas.
“And that pathway is always one that was seen as not clearly visible. So what Cassius has done is leaving a clear mark that I think the club will benefit from for many years – so we have to thank him for that, thank him for the goals and assists, the running, the pressing, the humility and the selflessness he demonstrated with us.
“An incredible human being, I think he has even more potential than we saw, and hopefully they can squeeze a little bit more out of him in the future. I expect nothing less, I expect him to probably even move to Europe.
“I think this move to the US, is for me a stepping stone, rather than a move towards a destination and that’s my input on that matter, to thank him and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
Mailula who looks likely to secure his visa ahead of his arrival in Toronto this month joins Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Njabulo Blom, Tsiki Ntsabeleng, Olwethu Makhanya and Adam Pearlman as the South African contingent in the MLS this season.
