New Toronto FC forward Cassius Mailula is creating excitement at the club after his first week of training.
Maulila, 22, joined the Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit from Mamelodi Sundowns after winning the DStv Premiership in his debut season.
He won the PSL Young Player of the Season and made his senior international debut for South Africa whilst scoring 15 goals across all competitions.
The club’s interim coach Terry Dunfield admits he’s impressed with what he’s seen from the player thus far, who’s been handed the number 12 shirt upon his unveiling last week.
“He can play anywhere across the front line,” he told the club’s website. “He takes the ball well, whether it’s in behind the back line or in between lines, really smoothly.
“He can set up goals, he can score goals. There’s a youthful enthusiasm with how he plays, very creative. We’ve got a very good young player on our hands who is excited to be in Toronto.”
Toronto’s general manager Jason Hernandez who admitted he was on their radar ‘for a while’ opened up on his thoughts of the signing who was named on the bench on Sunday in their 3-2 defeat to Montreal which extended their winless run to 12 games in the MLS.
“Clearly he had a very impressive season in his league. To be the Young Player of the Year in the top tier in South Africa is quite an achievement,” said Hernandez. “Certainly also to be involved in the full national team for the first time is quite an achievement.”
“The negotiation was not easy but a credit to Sundowns and a credit to Cassius and his representative. We were able to find an agreement.
“To go out, do the work to find a young talented player that we think fits the profile for what we would like to see out of that position, out of that player profile, is exciting.
“At the end of the day, Cassius is moving to a new country, to a new league. There’s going to be an adjustment period and a lot of work to do. But we’re really excited about the opportunity and the possibilities.”
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Mailula now becomes the fifth South African in the league after Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United), Katlego “Tsiki” Ntsabeleng (FC Dallas), Njabulo Blom (St Louis City), and Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union).
Hlongwane has been in career-best form after scoring seven goals in five games in the League’s Cup which was won by Inter Miami but suffered an injury after 39 minutes in their return to MLS action as his side beat NYFC 2-0.
Blom’s side St Louis, led by Bradley Carnell maintained their spot at the top of the Western Conference with a 6-3 win over Austin albeit the South African turned out a below-par display.
However, prior to the game he’s been in scanlating form and credited for their position at the summit of their stream.
Tsiki’s Dallas was not in action while the 19-year-old Makhanya, who joined from Stellenbosch FC this month was an unused substitute for a third match running.
