Former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cassius Mailula's Club World Cup performance for Wydad Casablanca could save his career, with a double boost awaiting him at Toronto.
Mailula had a rare opportunity to play the FIFA Club World Cup for Wydad Casablanca, in a country of his parent club, Toronto.
Although The Red Castle lost all their games, where they were in a tough group that had Manchester City and Juventus, the former Mamelodi Sundowns striker found the back of the net in their 2-1 defeat to Al Ain, in a dead-rubber last round-robin match.
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The 24-year-old was quick to send out a statement on his social media that he would not be returning to North Africa, after a season-loan, where he initially reunited with former coach Rulani Mokwena.
The Ga-Molepo native forward would be looking forward to fair competition and some stability, after Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi's contracts were not renewed at The Reds.
"Not that their level is too high, I think it was all about me being able to adapt, I think that was my challenge, firstly to adapt to how they work, the demands, the pressure of playing for Toronto," Mailula explained why he could not play in his first season, on Metro FM Sports.
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"There were also a lot of changes in the club, new coaches, new interim coaches, so I had to adjust to new philosophies, which is a bit difficult for a footballer my age.
"It's a different environment, they don't work the same as us in South Africa. I don't think it's a matter of talent, of you not being good enough. It's also about getting someone who believes in you. I had to prove myself over and over again," Mailula added.
Another boost for Mailula at Toronto is he will now be under the guidance of Robin Frasler, who is hailed for believing in youth, after he replaced John Herdman, who resigned last November after a spying drone scandal that rocked Canadian soccer, as a former coach of both women and men national teams.
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