Cassius Mailula fired up for his MLS debut with Toronto FC

Mailula joined Toronto FC from Mamelodi Sundowns in a deal reportedly in the region of R40 million as part of the MLS U-22 Initiative.

Speaking to the Canadian media ahead of this game, Mailula says it will be good if he can get game time and help his team get the much needed victory.

"Yeah, I'm actually excited to start to play my first game with the team. I think it's gonna be a big game for me because it's the rivals and from how I saw it what the team also showed me is that this is a big game for the club," Mailula said.

"It means a lot to the city also and I think it win actually give me a lot of confidence if I get to get a chance to play. It will be good for me to start with the win with the team."

After 24 matches played this season, Toronto are currently second from the bottom of the log in the Eastern Conference, just above Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

Mailula is one of at least five other South African junior and senior internationals currently playing in the MLS, together with the likes of Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United), Katlego Ntsabaleng (FC Dallas), Njabulo Blom (St Louis) and Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union). The 21-year-old believes that Bafana Bafana will be the biggest beneficiary here.

"I think the league also has made me attracted to coming here, especially now since big names are starting to join the league which is gonna help me to improve a lot of things. I also bring my quality in the league as well to represent my country which is the most important thing because I'm not only playing for myself.

The good thing is there are also players that are playing in the MLS that are from home. It will actually help us to be able to prepare ourselves when we go back and represent our country in the national team."