Toronto FC forward Cassius Mailula was effectively ruled out of contention for Bafana Bafana's AFCON squad by head coach Hugo Broos, so now former Kaizer Chiefs defender Tefu Mashamaite believes the youngster should return to the PSL to get back into the national team.
Mailula was part of the South Africa squad when he was a Mamelodi Sundowns player, and Broos warned that the player needed a year or two extra developing through CAF Champions League football with the PSL champions. The young star impressed so much last season that he got the attention of MLS scouts and was tipped as the next big thing in South African football.
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Since then the winger has struggled for game time in Canada in the MLS and has been dropped from the Bafana squad. Speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma, Mashamaite suggests that a loan move back to Sundowns or Chiefs for the remainder of the season, will be ideal move for the player.
Mailula will need to rediscover his form and also rebuild his match fitness to even have a chance of getting back into the squad for AFCON.
"You know there is a lot that he has missed out on since his move to the MLS. I think it is how it is structured. You know it's off season now and it would be good if he can be loaned out," Mashamaite told Soccer Laduma.
"Whether it's Kaizer Chiefs or Mamelodi Sundowns that would really come handy for him. The loan deal can open up the window for the national team coach to look at him. You know with AFCON around the corner it could be good if he can seal that deal before the Africa Cup of Nations so that he could be part of that squad.
"You know since he moved to America he moved into obscurity and lost his place in the national team. He used to be part of the national team but since moving there he has never been called up. So for his progress, fitness and form I feel a loan move to one of the two teams would be good for him," the former Kaizer Chiefs defender concluded.Soccer Laduma contacted Mailula's agent to discuss the possibility of their player being loaned back to the PSL temporarily but his representatives didn't want to comment on the situation. There is no indication whether Mailula would want to return to the PSL or whether Chiefs or Sundowns want the player now, though with his talent he has the potential to succeed in any South African club.
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