Sundowns’ 5 youngest goalscorers to reach 10 goals as Cassius Mailula sends records tumbling
Cassius Mailula’s impressive scoring abilities have thrust him into the summit of the top five youngest goalscorers to have reached 10-plus goals for Mamelodi Sundowns.
The 21-year-old is the youngest to surpass the 10-goal mark for Sundowns in PSL history. He overtook Raphael Chukwu, who held this record for the longest time at the club.
According to Opta Jabu, the Nigerian reached this mark at 22 and now sits second behind Mailula.
The rest of the top five consists of Percy Tau, who reached the mark at 23, Mushekwi Nyasha at 24, and Ndlovu Sandile at 25.
Unlike the rest of the players in this category, Mailula did all of this in his first season in the DStv Premiership. The Limpopo-born forward made his debut for the first team this season in September 2022.
Mailula is the first Sundowns academy graduate since Tau to have caused such strides in the league and a record-breaking stint with the first team.
However, because of the age and stats backing Mailula currently, this might tip him to achieve more than Tau achieved in his Sundowns career.
THE COMPARISON OF MAILULA AND TAU
Before Mailula, Sundowns had Percy Tau as one of their successful development products in recent years.
Unlike Mailula, who went straight to the first team from the development structures, Tau was sent out on a loan move to a first-division side before claiming his place in Sundowns’ first team.
With all the accolades that he won, Tau, who was a resounding success at Sundowns, earned himself a move to Europe at 24.
However, he reached 10 goals in all competitions at the age of 23. It took the Lion of Judah, as Tau is called by football fans, three seasons to reach this mark with Sundowns.
Interestingly, Mailula reached this mark in 16 appearances in all competitions, in one season, only at the age of 21. Mailula’s two goals against Coton Sport in the CAF Champions League took his tally to 12.
Mailula is currently in his first season with the first team and still has more seasons ahead of him to achieve more than he achieved this season possibly.
That’s if injuries won’t be a factor in the future.
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE YOUNGSTER AT SUNDOWNS
The Sundowns development alumni is not only in the race to become Sundowns’ top goalscorer
He is gradually taking over the reins from Peter Shalulile, who had 45 goals in all competitions last season for Sundowns. The Namibian international has battled with injuries this season.
Mailula has seven goals in the DStv Premiership, firmly putting him in the Golden Boot race.
He is currently the joint-second goal scorer in the league alongside Bradley Grobler, Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, and Etiosa Ighodaro. Shalulile is first in the league with nine goals so far.
With all the stats and performances that the youngster has pulled off so far this season, he could become the young player of the season. A Bafana Bafana call-up next month is also a huge possibility.
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