I thought ‘are we going to extra-time - Mailula.

                 Image: iDiski Times 

Mamelodi Sundowns forward, Cassius Mailula, says he thought they would go to extra-time after the CAF Champions League semi-final against Wydad Athletic Club ended 2-2.

It took someone reminding him of the away goal rule for the sad reality to sink in for the 21-year-old Mailula, which was followed by heartbreak and a rain of tears.

"Even after the final whistle I thought ‘are we going to extra-time?’ But then someone told me ‘no, it’s away goals’," Mailula told MSW, as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/caf-champions-league/mailula-explains-tearful-breakdown-after-cafcl-exit/

"That’s why I was so, so emotional because I believed that if we’re going to extra-time, I thought they didn’t have a chance. But that’s what happened."

Mailula says winning the CAFCL title has been his goal since 2016.

He says it has always been his dream to see himself lifting the trophy alongside his idol, Themba Zwane.

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"I knew from day 1 that this is what I want, the dream that I always wanted. [Winning CAFCL] is something that I wanted to achieve.

"I would’ve actually loved to be in the final and win it in my first season with the first team, and actually to lift the trophy with Themba Zwane – Mshishi, because it’s one of the things that I said in 2016, it’s something I want to do one day."

While his dream took a heartbreaking knock, Mailula says it is not over. He will take the experiences learned from the competition and move on.

"But I don’t think it’s over. I think I’ve learnt a lot in this competition. It’s one of those days in football where you have to experience such things and to learn."

Stubborn Broos can't be moved from his Mailula overseas move stance, but, what if he be right?

Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has remained adamant on his views about Cassius Mailula's readiness to ply his trade overseas.

The Belgian believes Mailula still needs to gain more experience, especially through Caf Champions League football.

"When I look at him, his behavior in the group is very good," the Belgian tactician said as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/dstv-premiership/broos-praises-mailula-but-maintains-europe-stance/

"He’s a guy that has his two feet on the ground, but there are a lot of things to do about him. He’s a young player that is scoring goals at Sundowns when he wants, and that is very cool.

"So I like that very much."

"Secondly, I said it already a few days ago when somebody asked me if he’s ready for Europe, I’ll repeat again, no, Mailula is not ready for Europe.

"He needs to gain more experience and therefore I hope for him that he stays at Sundowns and plays again in CAF Champions League next year. But his experience is also good. But he has something already now that is very important, he is scoring.

"Once he is in the 16 area and he gets a chance, it’s a goal. He has it already. But if he can have a little bit of experience by playing good games, games of high level, I think we can have a very good striker, certainly."          

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Why Broos could be right about Mailula:

Cassius's football talent is beyond any reasonable doubt, he is a top footballer with a lot of highly sought after qualities in modern football.

His talent alone, if it was all that matters in football, can take Mailula to the best leagues in Europe.

Unfortunately, talent is not enough.

For Mailula to succeed in the European game, he will need his mental muscles to be as strong as his physical ones.

To develop those strong mental muscles, Mailula needs to be tested more in highly demanding games, and for now, he can get such experiences in the Caf Champions League.

With Sundowns also set to take part in the Caf Super League, Mailula will have more opportunities to test himself under extremely difficult conditions, which will develop his mental strength, something you can't survive without in Europe.

Broos's opinion might be unpopular, as country, we are desperate to see our best talent playing abroad, but he could be right.

Another season with Downs in the CAFCL, coupled with more Bafana caps, can do Mailula a world of good before he moves abroad.

If he goes now, and he finds the going tough, the very same people who say he is ready, will be on his back, calling him a flop!

Maybe, just maybe, Broos is right.

Image: Twitter

Mike Makaab disagrees with Broos on Mailula.

Prosport International boss, Mike Makaab has weighed in on the subject of Cassius Mailula and an overseas move.

Recently, Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos raised a few eye brows when he said Mailula is not ready for European football.

Makaab has since completely disagreed with Broos.

"I'm going to use an example, in January last year we signed a player who was playing in ivory coast, born 2005, Ousmane Diomande, he was playing in an Ivorian academy," Makaab told iGagasi FM.

"Cassius, he was born in 2002 if I am not mistaken. He's probably playing for the best team in Africa, not only is he playing for the best team in Africa, but he is starring for the best team in Africa, not only in the local league but in the continent.

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"So let me go back to Ousmane, we signed him and we sent him to Europe, he went to FC Midtjylland, they loaned him out to CD Mafra from the Portuguese second division, last night, it wasn't for the first time, but he started for Sporting Lisbon that beat Arsenal, he played 120 minutes."

Makaab believes that at 21-years-old, Mailula is no longer a youngster in football.

"You look at the youngster Mabena that Rulani introduced, thats a youngster, not a 21 year old."