Malajila — a cut above the rest
Billiat, above, of Sundowns and Chiefs’ Musona, below, were groomed from an early age, whereas Malajila broke into top-flight football aged 21 and hasn’t looked back
CUTHBERT Malajila is not cut from the same cloth as his countrymen Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona, who had the Aces Youth Soccer Academy in Zimbabwe to lift them from humble beginnings to stardom.
But there’s obviously something special about Malajila. Katlego Mphela has so far managed to, roughly, score a goal every two matches for Bafana. But Malajila has kept him on the bench at Mamelodi Sundowns, which has also cost Mphela his national team spot.
Billiat, now also part of the expensively assembled Sundowns outfit, and Kaizer Chiefs’ Musona were groomed from an early age, whereas Malajila broke into top-flight football only at the “old” age of 21.
Pitso Mosimane, the Sundowns coach, has been Mphela’s long-time praise singer.
But it appears Malajila has him singing a different tune.
And with five goals in nine Premier League games, there’s much more to come from the former Maritzburg United sharpshooter.
“I’m from Kadoma, where there are very few opportunities like the ones Billiat and Musona had growing up. I never had the chance to get into an academy. I have a very long story to tell about how it all started, but we don’t have all day.
“I want to be the best. I’ve always told myself that I have to take up my challenges against the best, which I have found here at Sundowns. He [Mphela] has been helping and pushing me as I help and push him to improve. I haven’t played with him much this season, but I have played with Katlego Mashego. It’s been good. What we do at training we try and do during the game,” Malajila said this week.
There’s pressure on the Brazilians to win silverware this season, giving none of the new signings time to settle — results are expected immediately. But Malajila, 28, isn’t yet feeling the burden of carrying his side’s title hopes on his shoulders.
“This is Sundowns. Everyone here, given the opportunity, can do the job. At Maritzburg we tried to win things — the Telkom Knockout or the Nedbank Cup — but we just didn’t go far enough. I am happy to be here now, where I think we can win something this season,” he said.
The responsibility does not fall only on Malajila and his more recent strike partner Mashego — last season’s top scorer with 13 strikes while at Moroka Swallows. Billiat’s contribution can’t be ignored.
“I’d never had the chance to play with him until we joined Sundowns,” said Malajila. “I think the language
Every generation has good players, and maybe our generation is the best we’ve had in a while
[they both speak Shona] has also made things a little bit easier. I have been able to utilise his strength and he has been able to use mine.
“I play with him more here at the club than I do in the national team, but we will get better as the season continues. He can dribble, pass and has an eye for a goal. He always manages to keep the opposition busy, which is a plus for us strikers.”
Along with Billiat and Musona, Malajila is part of a new breed as the Warriors begin to regroup and aim to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. In January, South Africa will host the African Nations Championship, but the three are not eligible because they are not playing in their country.
“There’s a lot of talent in Zimbabwe, and they are coming here to win,” said Malajila. “Every generation has good players, and maybe our generation is the best we’ve had in a while. But you have to win something to show that you were the best in your time.”