Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos hardly minces his words and after he caused an uproar with his comments about Cassius Mailula, and now one might say he could have been right after all.
Broos was criticised for saying that Mailula is not ready to move to Europe, in March this year following his great form in his debut season for Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership.
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The 22-year old's exploits even has supporters believing that the Major Soccer League (MLS) is beneath him and he should have gone to a big league in Europe.
Broos insisted that Mailula needed at least another season with the Brazilians, particularly in the CAF Champions League, making similar remarks to South African legendary coach Pitso Mosimane, who also believed Percy Tau needed at least another campaign in the CAF Champions League with the Tshwane giants shortly after he was signed by Brighton Hove Albion (after loan spells in Belgium, Tau struggled for game time at the Premier League side and made a move to Al Ahly).
Former Orlando Pirates and Sundowns midfielder Teko Modise believes the MLS is just about right for Mailula and the Masandawana academy graduate should use the league as an opportunity to grow.
"Doctor Khumalo has been to the MLS, Jomo Sono has been, Kaizer Motaung has been, so that's not an issue going to MLS, it shouldn't be a concern, the boy needs to grow and the boy needs to find different ways of how is it that he grows, maybe to fulfill his ultimate dream," Modise said on PrimeSportsWithMahlatse.
"My biggest concern is his growth, whatever league he's playing in, just improve as a player, to become a better player so that when you do get an opportunity to play in big leagues you're already ready.
"I feel this is the right step for him. We always complain about young players not getting opportunities to go overseas but once (they are) we start criticising the leagues. We need Mailula to succeed overseas so that he can inspire other young ones to succeed," he said.
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Another season with Sundowns, who in addition to the CAF Champions League, will be playing in the inaugural African Football League, would have added to him much more growth before venturing to the rigours of club football in Europe or America.
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