Cassius Mailula opens up on rollercoaster ride that brought him back home

Despite confidence in his ability, the 25-year-old struggled to establish himself as a regular at KV Kortrijk while on loan from MLS outfit Toronto FC, who later released him, opening the door to rejoin Sundowns.

Speaking on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with host Andile Ncube, Mailula reflected on the rollercoaster ride of the past three seasons and the experiences that ultimately brought him back home again.

"It was not an easy period in Belgium but I think I'm happy that I got the experience, I got to learn a lot in that environment. I'm just also happy that I got to be in Europe, not a lot of players get that opportunity to go to Europe,” Mailula said.

“From my perspective I think it's a matter of a club having a plan around you, knowing when they want you, how are they going to use you because they know my quality before I come to the club already that's why they wanted me. 

“For me, it's when you want me you need to have a plan on how you are going to use me and also use me to my strength if you want to use me. 

“The rest, you can never doubt the talent, the talent is obviously there. It's just a matter of getting that opportunity and for me to grab it."

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Mailula suggested Toronto never really had a role for him despite spending a reported R30-million to sign him as an U22 initiative. 

"Every player wants to do well, obviously when you are in an environment where this is what you've always wanted you want to show the world that you can do it and also you want to make sure that the club that brought you to the team, you make sure that you give them something,” he added.

“You just don't want to be there just to be on a holiday, you want to contribute to the team. 

“I think it's three or four games, I'm not quite sure about how many minutes I even got because mostly I was always in the team but just not given a chance, that's what I'm saying. 

“If you want a player in your club, you bring him and you use him, know how you are going to use him, also for me to know that when I'm coming to the club, how we will work around what I have."