Extra time: The future of Sundowns’s breakout star Cassius Mailula could lie in Europe, writes Michael Madyira, but he must be nurtured in the mould of Benni McCarthy.
For quite a while now, South Africa has been struggling to find a player who can be regarded as world-class.
Someone regularly playing Uefa Champions football or in one of the world’s most competitive leagues while consistently performing.
A player in the mould of yesteryear stars like Benni McCarthy, Steven Pienaar, Lucas Radebe, Shaun Bartlett, Siyabonga Nomvethe and Aaron Mokoena.
Rather, a worrisome trend has been consistent in recent years whereby Bafana Bafana stars do not last in Europe. Some return home before reaching the age of 28.
However, a future prospect who can scale the heights reached by the former big stars has emerged this season.
Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cassius Mailula has arguably been the biggest revelation of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) this term.
So far, he has shown immense potential to become the next big thing to happen to South African football.
It could be too early to start mentioning the 21-year-old as a possible superstar but he has displayed attributes of becoming very big.
Just five months after making his PSL debut as an unknown lad, Mailula is already chasing the Golden Boot award.
He is yet to earn a Bafana call-up and some experience but he has transferred his PSL form into the CAF Champions League while establishing himself as a key figure in the Sundowns fold.
Week in, week out, he is proving he has the potential to reach the level achieved by McCarthy and company.
Yes, I’ll be bold to say that is where he is headed.
But it is still a long road and a lot is required from him to get there.
Mailula might still need, maybe, a season or two more in the PSL while also playing at the highest level in Africa to gain experience.
If he maintains or ups his current form, there is no question that a move from Sundowns should strictly be to the Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, La Liga or Serie A.
From there, he should become a player who terrifies world-class opponents the way McCarthy and his ilk did.
If ever he returns to the PSL it should not be because he flopped overseas, but to come back home to retire in the way McCarthy, Pienaar, and Mokoena did.
Pictured above: Cassius Mailula
Image source: Mamelodi Sundowns
