Mailula faces scoring task after return to Mamelodi Sundowns

Cassius Mailula has begun his second spell at Mamelodi Sundowns under pressure to preserve the exceptional scoring record he established during his first time at the club.

The 25-year-old forward has scored twice in his opening three matches since returning to Sundowns, maintaining a career record of one goal in every two appearances for the South African side.

Mailula has found the net 17 times and provided four assists in 34 matches for Sundowns, giving him an average of exactly one goal every two games. That level of productivity is admired across world football and has set a demanding standard for his latest spell at Chloorkop.

The forward from Limpopo first made his mark during the 2022/23 PSL season, when he scored 15 goals in 31 appearances. His performances were particularly impressive because he showed little sign of inexperience despite it being his debut campaign.

Nine of those goals came in 17 league matches, during which he played 1,005 minutes. That equated to a goal every 112 minutes in the competition.

His rapid rise attracted interest from clubs outside South Africa and eventually led to a move to Toronto. Since leaving Sundowns, however, Mailula has recorded lower scoring returns during spells in MLS, Morocco and Belgium.

He now faces the challenge of reproducing the prolific form that made him such a prominent figure at Sundowns before his departure.

“He has always done the business for us…we know he is going to be banging a lot of goals this season,” said team-mate Grant Kekana this week.

Mailula’s return also carries potential consequences for his international career. If he can maintain his current scoring rate, a recall to Bafana Bafana is expected to follow.

His most recent appearance for the senior national team came shortly before he left for MLS.

The forward’s first spell at Sundowns was defined by his efficiency in front of goal, with his record of 17 goals in 34 appearances providing a benchmark he will now be expected to match again.

His early goals since returning have kept that benchmark intact, but the longer-term task will be to sustain the output throughout the season and re-establish himself as one of the division’s most effective attackers.

Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images