Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says midfielder Cassius Mailula’s loan move to Wydad Athletic Club has put him back in contention for selection in the team.
Mailula joined MLS side Toronto FC last July on a three-year deal with a one-year option from Mamelodi Sundowns.
But the 23-year-old struggled for game-time, only playing eight matches and scoring two goals. He has since reunited with Rulani Mokwena, who gave him a chance in his breakout season with Sundowns’ first team, in Morocco and the move has pleased Broos, who admitted he is fan of the young forward.
“I’m very happy because you know I was a little bit of a fan of him because he’s a guy you give the ball in the 16 [yard box] and he turns around it’s a goal,” Broos told the media.
“And then he made the move to Toronto and I never understood why he went to Toronto with two Italian internationals and a Canadian international.
“Who was Mailula, who was he? He played 15 games in the PSL. That was a very bad move from his agent and he saw what happened. He didn’t play for a year and a half.
“So I’m very happy he’s going to a coach who knows him very well. That’s already an advantage and I think he will have more time to play. Let’s hope we see the old Cassius in a few months.”
However, Mailula wasn’t in contention for the current Bafana Bafana squad, which will face Uganda at Orlando Stadium on Friday before traveling to South Sudan four days later.
