How working alongside Shalulile helped Mailula
Mamelodi Sundowns young striker Cassius Mailula has revealed how working alongside Peter Shalulile helped him improve his game.
Mailula made his first team breakthrough in the just-ended PSL campaign. The 21-year-old had an excellent debut season with the Tshwane giants.
He played 31 matches in all competitions, scored 15 goals and provided four assists. For his great work and consistency on the pitch, the Sundowns academy graduate earned a national team call-up and was nominated for the DStv Premiership Young Player of the Season.
Despite his undoubted talent, the youngster has explained how Shalulile helped him to work hard and justify his inclusion in the team.
On the other hand, Shalulile continued with his great form.
The Namibian ace played 34 matches, scoring 23 goals while * providing five assists. “That guy is a hard worker. I’m actually inspired, I’m actually motivated to see him wake up early in the morning come to the gym do recovery work and how he treats himself off the pitch,” said Mailula.
“It’s been great to work alongside him because we sometimes call each other to come do the finishing. It’s great to have someone like him in my life because he’s one of the guys who told me that you have potential but that wouldn’t just make you play in our team.”
“He said you have to work hard and you have to do extra work. Come let’s do finishing, let’s do extra work. If you need help with anything, tell me so that you become a better person and a better player.”
With club football wrapped up, Mailula shifts his focus to international football with Bafana Bafana.
Mailula made it to the 34-member preliminary squad to face Morocco in June for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Sundowns ended the season with just the PSL title and reached the semi-final of the Caf Champions League. They failed to have a major impact on the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup titles. However, Mailula hopes to have better numbers for the Brazilians in the 2023/24 season.