Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has opened up about the attacking crisis his side faced, explaining how Cassius Mailula emerged as the ideal solution to solve their frontline struggles.
The 25-year-old Mailula recently returned to the Brazilians for a second stint after spending time at Major League Soccer side Toronto FC, Wydad Casablanca and KV Kortrijk in Belgium. In the three games he has played so far in the new season, Mailula has scored two crucial goals after coming on from the bench.
He was on target in the MTN8 quarter-final against Polokwane City FC, scoring the winning goal in the 3-2 victory. In the 1-1 Betway Premiership draw with Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, Mailula grabbed Masandawana’s equaliser with his first touch, fresh on the pitch.
The influence he has had in Sundowns’ games is a glimpse of the old Mailula, who took South African football by storm in his debut top-flight league season before he went to Toronto FC.
MIGUEL CARDOSO’S QUEST TO ADDRESS A FORWARDS CRISIS AT MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Mailula has added more options in Cardoso’s strikeforce as the Portuguese admits he did not have enough arsenal to spearhead his attack.
“It is important to say that last year, a lot of time, obviously not publicly, because it is not my intention to speak publicly, but it’s clear that I was appealing and asking for more options in front so that we can have more variety of players,” Cardoso told the media after Chiefs’ match at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
“We struggled last year, or since I arrived at the club, to have the capacity to change players in front and to put energy and reinforcement. There were a few numbers that compared to this season.
“I think this season we are a little bit better or better. Obviously, here and there, some of the youngsters still show some lack of capacity to decide in the best way because they want to make an extra dribble, or they want to take an extra shot at the goal too early.
“But we are also giving them opportunities to grow with the competition. Obviously, sometimes, the price is not getting the results that you want, but I think we have been doing well.”
SOLUTION FOUND IN CASSIUS MAILULA
Despite Masandawana already having strikers like Arthur Sales, Brayan Leon, Iqraam Rayners and Lebo Mothiba, Cardoso still wanted more upfront. The Masandawana coach explains what makes Mailula the striker he was searching for.
“Regarding Cassius, he is not a youngster. He is, first of all, a player who showed a lot of intention to come to the club. As soon as he came and started to train the first day, I said, ‘This player is ours,’” the Portuguese coach opens up on his impression of Mailula.
“Clearly, the boy feels at home. He shows a lot of energy and commitment and relates with everybody. So, he feels happy, and the best thing in life is when your emotions are positive towards what you do.
“No one should go to work in the morning and not like what they do. No one should go and come back home and not like the family that they live with. So, that brings us joy and happiness and together with that, good things come.”
The former Esperance coach hails Mailula’s mindset as the player who helps him implement what he wants in his side.
“Cassius is one example that I think all the boys understood and made the commitment to make the game that way. Cassius will for sure enter into the team at the right moments,” Cardoso went on.
“He will play, sometimes he will not play, sometimes he will give help. That’s the spirit we are growing inside the group.
“When you play many games in a few days, you need everybody. As much as the players understand the message and they cope with it, with the right mindset, the better they are prepared to enter the field and give good things. Cassius has that mindset, so he will for sure be happier more times than he already is.”
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