Former Toronto FC Forward Cassius Mailula Set for South Africa Return as Pirates and Sundowns Battle

SportsBoom has learned that former Toronto FC and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cassius Mailula will likely return home to South Africa to join either Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of the 2026/27 season, as he prioritises playing in the CAF Champions League for exposure and to develop his game.  

Time Abroad

Mailula, after five appearances in Major League Soccer for Toronto Football Club, has become a free agent following the mutual termination of his contract, which was originally set to expire at the end of the 2026 season. 

The 25-year-old moved from Mamelodi Sundowns to Toronto FC in July 2023, after having had a stellar maiden Premier Soccer League season where he won the Young Player of the Season award on the back of 16 goals in 32 appearances for the Brazilians. 

However, his time abroad has not necessarily yielded the results he would have hoped for, having been loaned out by Toronto FC to Wydad in Morocco to join coach Rulani Mokoena and KV Kortrijk in Belgium, having lacked form in North America. 

Neither of those loan spells seemed to bring out the youngster's full potential, as he parted ways with the North American team on mutual grounds this past week.

Pirates & Sundowns Link

SportsBoom has learned that the 25-year-old is leaning towards the prospect of returning home to South Africa, as he continues his search for the spark and promise he once showed in his early 20s. 

Sources close to the player have told SportsBoom that he is prioritising minutes in the CAF Champions League, a feat that only the current Betway Premiership champions, Orlando Pirates, and the current Champions League champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, can offer. 

With Pirates having recently released young prodigy Relebohile Mofokeng to Belgian giants Union Saint-Gilloise, it is almost a perfect fit for Mailula, as the Buccaneers also need a playmaker and finisher to replace Mofokeng. 

However, a return to Sundowns also seems quite a suitable environment for a player in Mailula's situation. 

Sundowns can offer him the comfort of home, having played there before. Moreover, with Peter Shalulile having left Chloorkop, a striker like Mailula could be just the perfect replacement that Sundowns would need to further build on their legacy of dominance on the African continent.