Mamelodi Sundowns development graduate Cassius Mailula has hailed the impact of the club's DStv Diski Challenge coach Sinethemba Badela on the club's players.
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Badela's arrival at Sundowns in September 2023 coincided with the departure of Mailula to MLS side Toronto FC just two months earlier.
While the duo did not get to work together at Sundowns, Mailula is well aware of what the former All Stars coach brings to the table.
Known for his tactical acumen, Badela's impact at the Sundowns DDC team is showing and Mailula is of the opinion that the young coach is the perfect person to groom the club's first team prospective players.
"I've been following them [Sundowns' DDC], I've been watching their games also when I can. I think they've been doing well so far, they've been doing well. I've also watched the Sundowns first team, they are doing so, so, so well and I do speak to coach [Rulani Mokwena] he always guides me, [he] always talks to me [about] how's everything going that side and yeah from what I see the [from] the boys in the DDC they're doing well I think they might even win the league because they have a good coach [Themba Badela] I've followed him also even in the NFD," Mailula told SuperSport.
"He's been doing good. He produced a lot of players that are even playing in the PSL and NFD you know. So, I think it's gonna be good for the boys to be coached by him. Coach Themba is gonna help them to be able to go through to coach Rulani. I think even the relationship is good you know it's good because he guides them in a good way so that they can cope when they go to the first team."
Touching on his time in the MLS so far, Mailula, who has had only three appearances since making the switch has referred to his time abroad as a learning curve, as he adjusts to life abroad.
"It's been great to be this side. Obviously, I had to experience certain things that side which has not been easy from the start but I think I've enjoyed the ride, I've enjoyed my stay that side but it's been great. It's been challenging but I think it's a lesson you know I had to also get out of my comfort zone to go and experience how it is to play overseas," he added.
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