Mailula says strong Sundowns form has earned Bafana Bafana return

Cassius Mailula says his return to the South Africa squad proves that regular club football remains the key to earning international recognition.

The Mamelodi Sundowns forward has been recalled by new coach Pitso Mosimane after last playing for Bafana Bafana in March 2023. He appeared for only 10 minutes in the 2-2 Afcon qualifying draw against Liberia at Orlando Stadium under former coach Hugo Broos.

Mailula said he had never doubted that he was capable of playing for the national team.

“I’ve always believed that I belong to the national team because of the quality that I have,” the 25-year-old told reporters in Auckland Park this week.

He was previously selected by Broos but was unable to establish himself in the squad, partly because he was not playing regularly at club level.

“Even with the previous coach [Broos], I was called up, but unfortunately things didn’t work out the way I’d have wanted them to because I wasn’t playing at my club,” Mailula said.

His place in the Bafana squad was lost after he left Sundowns for US Major League Soccer (MLS) club Toronto in July 2023. Mailula found opportunities limited in Canada and spent much of his time away from the club on loan.

His temporary moves included spells with Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca and Belgian club KV Kortrijk, before he returned to the Brazilians at the start of this season.

The forward has made an immediate impact since going back to Sundowns, scoring four goals in 11 appearances across all competitions.

Mailula believes that form was central to his international recall.

“It [his Bafana inclusion] shows that it doesn’t matter who you are… you have to play at your club to earn a call-up,” he said.

“Coming back home to start playing more games gave me a lot of confidence that if you do well, especially playing for a big club, you have a chance to come back to the national team.”

Bafana are currently in camp in Johannesburg preparing for two Afcon qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea.

South Africa will begin their Group D campaign against Guinea at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, before travelling to Cairo to face Eritrea next Wednesday.

Their other Group D opponent is Kenya. Uganda and Tanzania are co-hosts of next year’s Afcon in the Pamoja region, for which these qualifiers are being held.

Only one team will progress from the group, while the Benni McCarthy-coached nation have already secured qualification as one of the hosts.

South Africa will also meet Egypt in a high-profile friendly in Cairo on October 4.