Sundowns’ Cassius Mailula opens up on costly Wiliete mistake

Mamelodi Sundowns forward Cassius Mailula has opened up about a costly error that led to his team’s unexpected elimination from the CAF Champions League. The incident occurred during the second leg of Sundowns' preliminary round tie against Wiliete SC at Loftus Versfeld, where Mailula misplaced the ball, allowing the Angolan side to capitalize on the mistake.

Consequently, the 25-year-old was omitted from the match-day squad for Sundowns' subsequent Carling Knockout match against Marumo Gallants before rejoining the team for games against Durban City and Golden Arrows.

In an interview with Radio 2000 ahead of Sundowns' upcoming CAF Super Cup match against USM Alger, Mailula admitted that the blunder had a profound emotional impact on him. "It hurt me a lot," he admitted, adding that he spoke to his teammates about it. "They're a very strong group, and senior players spoke to me, saying that mistakes happen. You gave us a lot of wind, and what's important now is to come back stronger and help the team win crucial games."

Mailula also highlighted the invaluable lessons he has gleaned from the experience, particularly regarding his positioning on the field. "It's a good lesson for me as an attacker to know when to drop and when to come into that half space, playing one or two touches," he noted.

The veteran midfielder Themba Zwane, a key figure in the Sundowns squad, provided further support to Mailula following the setback. "Having senior players like Shika (Themba Zwane) is very good, and he spoke to me and told me to calm down," Mailula concluded. "He told me he's made the same mistake in his career, and it helped him grow and understand that he can't repeat the same mistake."

Looking ahead, Mailula is eager to put the disappointment behind him as Sundowns face USM Alger at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday, with a 3pm kick-off scheduled. The attacker has also been included in Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane's squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya.