Jump to content

Cassius Mailula

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cassius Mailula
Personal information
Full name Cassius Tumelo Mailula[1]
Date of birth (2001-06-12) 12 June 2001 (age 24)[1]
Place of birth Ga-Molepo, Limpopo, South Africa
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 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)
2024–2025 → Wydad AC (loan) 27 (5)
International career‡
2023– South Africa 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 May 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 17 June 2023

Cassius Tumelo Mailula (born 12 June 2001) is a South African professional soccer player who plays for Canadian club Toronto FC in Major League Soccer 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.[2][3]

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.[4][5] 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.[6][7] He scored his first league goals on 25 October, netting a brace against Maritzburg United.[8] Mailula was subsequently named the league's Young Player of the Season for his debut campaign.[9]

In July 2023, Mailula signed with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, signing through the 2026 season, with an option for 2027.[10][11] He made his debut on 26 August 2023, in a substitute appearance, against the Columbus Crew.[12] 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.[13] In 2024, he spent some time on loan with the second team, Toronto FC II, in MLS Next Pro.[14] 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 at Mamelodi Sundowns.[15] He scored his first goal for Wydad on 3 November 2024, netting a late winner in a 1-0 victory over FUS Rabat.[16]

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.[17][18] He made his debut on 24 March 2023 against Liberia.[19]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 26 June 2025[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] 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[c] 7 2[d] 0 32 16
Toronto FC 2023 Major League Soccer 3 0 0 0 — — 0 0 3 0
2024 Major League Soccer 2 0 3 2 — — 0 0 5 2
Total 5 0 3 2 — — 0 0 8 2
Toronto FC II 2024 MLS Next Pro 1 0 — — — — 1 0
Wydad AC (loan) 2024–25 Botola Pro 27 5 2 0 4 0 — 3[e] 1 36 6
Career total 51 14 7 2 4 0 10 7 5 1 77 24
  1. ^ Includes Nedbank Cup, Canadian Championship and Moroccan Throne Cup
  2. ^ Includes Excellence Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in CAF Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in MTN 8
  5. ^ Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup

Honours

[edit]

Mamelodi Sundowns

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ – Squad List: Wydad AC (MAR)" (PDF). FIFA. 4 July 2025. p. 32. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  2. ^ Rabothe, Tshepo (24 August 2022). "Who is Cassius Mailula – the unknown Sundowns substitute?". Far Post.
  3. ^ "Mailula backed by teammate for bright future". Kick Off. 29 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Player Analysis: Cassius Mailula". Breaking the Lines. 11 May 2023.
  5. ^ Sithole, Sinethemba (9 September 2022). "Cassius Mailula grateful after making Mamelodi Sundowns' debut". The South African.
  6. ^ Mark, Jonty (14 October 2022). "Mailula shines as Sundowns hand La Passe another pasting". The Citizen.
  7. ^ "Mailula hat-trick helps Sundowns thrash La Passe in CAF Champions League". News24. 14 October 2022.
  8. ^ Madlala, Robin-Duke (25 October 2022). "Mailula & Domingo Grab Braces As Sundowns Crush Maritzburg". iDiski Times.
  9. ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (29 May 2023). "After breakthrough season Sundowns' Mailula wants to be home with his mom". TimesLIVE.
  10. ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (25 July 2023). "'Dream come true to play against Messi': Sundowns' Mailula on move to MLS". TimesLIVE.
  11. ^ "Toronto FC sign South African forward Cassius Mailula". Toronto FC. 28 July 2023.
  12. ^ Madyauta, Terry (28 August 2023). "Former Sundowns star Cassius Mailula reflects on his MLS debut". Far Post.
  13. ^ "Cassius Mailula scores first goal for Toronto FC in thrashing of Simcoe County Rovers". Waking the Red. 25 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Toronto FC loan Cassius Mailula to Toronto FC II". Toronto FC. 28 April 2024.
  15. ^ Khoza, Neville (21 August 2024). "Mailula explains why he joined Rulani-coached Wydad in Morocco". The Sowetan.
  16. ^ "Mokwena Leaps To Mailula's Defence After Wydad Winner". SNL 24. 4 November 2024.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Strydom, Marc (7 March 2023). "Sundowns' red-hot Cassius Mailula included in Bafana squad". TimesLIVE.
  19. ^ Mphahlele, Mahlatse (24 March 2023). "Unconvincing Bafana stunned by Liberia as Afcon hopes fade". TimesLIVE.
  20. ^ Cassius Mailula at Soccerway
  21. ^ "Mokoena, Seleng win top honours at PSL awards". Premier Soccer League. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cassius_Mailula&oldid=1301214418"