Benni McCarthy’s agent Rob Moore has picked his young player of the season, and it’s not Mamelodi Sundowns’ breakout star Cassius Mailula.
The Sundowns forward has been in impressive form this season.
Mailula has scored 15 goals this season in all competitions. Nine came in the DStv Premiership, while six were in the CAF Champions League.
CASSIUS MAILULA IMPACT
Mailula ably filled in the shoes of Peter Shalulile when the Namibian was out injured.
While Moore believes Mailula is an incredible talent, he is convinced there is a younger player who has punched above his weight.
“Cassius Mailula, nice player. Flemming Berg [Sundowns sporting director] calls him his own Romario [former Brazil striker].
“I can see some similarities. But Cassius Mailula, by the time this season is finished – 30th of June – he’s 22 years older. What’s the definition of a young player of the year?
“I like him. I’ve watched a number of his games, his touch, his eye for goal and his movement. I like it,” Moore told Peter du Toit in an interview on This Is Football Africa’s YouTube channel.
MOORE SUGGESTS PLAYER OF THE SEASON CONTENDER
Moore’s choice of the young player of the year is Stellenbosch FC starlet Olwethu Makhanya. Makhanya turned 19 a week ago and has featured 21 times in all competitions.
20 of those appearances were starts, and the teenager got his first professional goal against Golden Arrows.
The goal came just a day before his 19th birthday, on the 29th of April, in a 5-2 DStv Premiership win.
“For me, an interesting one, there’s this 18-year-old boy at Stellenbosch – Makhanya, centre half.
“He has played the last 15 games in a row, 90 minutes. as an 18-year-old boy, central defender. For me, that’s remarkable because, generally speaking, and you’re talking about Stellenbosch. They had their back against the wall around December in the league.
“It was pretty ballsy by Steve Barker to put an 18-year-old for 90 minutes week after week.
“And you going through a bit of a wobble. Clearly, the coach has got a lot of faith in him.
“For me, that’s a really interesting one that one has to consider,” Moore concluded.
The youngster, nicknamed Tower, penned his first professional contract with Stellies in January this year. He had joined the club at the beginning of the season and made his senior debut in October 2022 vs Kaizer Chiefs.
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