Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos recently said Cassius Mailula probably needs one more year in the PSL before making a move to Europe, so the Friday debate this week looks at whether the Mamelodi Sundowns player should leave at the end of this season or should he wait another campaign.
Mailula is in his first season in the topflight with Sundowns and, during this period, he has been phenomenal, showing that he can handle pressure. He has been scoring both domestically and on the continent, and has recently earned himself a Bafana Bafana call-up. To no surprise, he has been linked with a move abroad, but there have been some contrasting opinions on the matter from footballer supporters and former players. Here's what the three guests on the Friday debate had to say on the matter...
'Until he really gets some caps...'
Aaron Mokoena - former Bafana Bafana captain
My opinion is that there is a big difference between international football and domestic football. The fact that he is in the national team and the fact that he is playing at Sundowns and in the Champions League is a very good thing. The fact that he has teams watching him abroad is a good thing, but I say until he really gets some caps in the national team and shows that he can deliver in that space, then we can start talking about the boy (moving to Europe). For now, I don't think it's a good time to throw him under the bus or put a lot of pressure on the young man. But one thing for sure, he is talented. We just need to protect him and that's what they are doing at Sundowns. But there is a big difference between Sundowns and Bafana Bafana. Right now, he has a chance to play for Bafana Bafana and that's where he needs to show that he can do it at international level and then we can start judging him accordingly before focusing on Europe. I am not writing off our domestic football, but from experience, there is a difference between domestic and international football. Sometimes our boys leave domestic football and they don't make it in Europe. It becomes hectic when they get there.
'Players wait too long'
Tyren Arendse - former Sundowns striker
I think in terms of football and talent, I don't think he needs another season. Maybe another season would help him in terms of understanding his game much better and improving as a player, but as they normally say, if you are good enough, then you are old enough. Personally, I don't think he needs another season in the PSL. If the teams abroad feel he is good enough, then he should go. At the end of the day, it depends on the boy himself. When other teams see that you are good enough, that's a big compliment to him. I think the only thing is that when players move abroad, maybe they are not mentally prepared. But I think in terms of football, if there is interest from overseas, that means he has the qualities and if you look at the way he has been playing, definitely the talent and quality is there. At the end of the day, it's about how he would cope in a different environment and different country. That's basically the challenge we get when players move abroad. It's just the mental part, like being away from your family and you are all alone in a different country. I think too many times players wait too long and, at the end of the day, they don't move. The younger they can move, the better. You can develop even more when you play abroad. These days you see younger players playing all over the world.
'It doesn't make sense for him to stay'
Bradley Taaibosch - football agent
My thing is why would you want to keep the boy in the PSL for an extra season, when the qualities are there for him to definitely make it in Europe. Look at Lyle Foster, for example. He has been in Europe since he was 18. Fast forward five years, he is now at Burnley. It was never about his capability. It was about him adjusting and he has been able to that. Delaying Cassius for another season, from my point of view, does not make sense at all. The sooner he goes, the better. Because it's not about his capability. What if it also takes him three years to adjust? It means you are just delaying. He might go there and hit the ground running, so you never know. He might go there and struggle for a year, but it shouldn't be looked at that he needs one more year in the PSL before he goes to Europe. I would rather give him that extra season in Europe, than give him that extra season here. Even he goes there and gets loaned out, I'd rather it be in Europe than it be here. Let's say he signs in a big five country in Europe and they loan him out to the Belgium, that means he will spend time adapting there, instead of keeping him in the PSL for a year. So, it doesn't make sense for him to stay.
