With dreams of playing alongside Themba Zwane in the Caf Champions as an attacking midfielder, Mamelodi Sundowns conducted a Q&A with rising star Cassius Mailula about his future aspirations.

When did you decide what position you wanted to play?

I decided to play as an attacking midfielder when I was 10 years old. I got inspired by the way Teko Modise played; I also loved playing as a striker simply because I loved scoring goals and I hated seeing my team lose.

When and how did you join the Sundowns academy?

I joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016. When I was 15 I got scouted at a tournament in Soweto called the Nelson Mandela Youth Challenge where I won player of the tournament and was the top goalscorer.

How do you manage to study and play football?

You need to have time management and discipline yourself to know when to socialise and when to focus on your schoolwork. I try by all means when I’m studying and training.

Which footballers do you look up to and why?

The player I look up to is Themba Zwane. It’s because of his hard work on and off the pitch and he plays in the same position as me. He is also one of the players who consistently performs well in PSL week in, week out.

What has been the toughest game you have played in and why?

The toughest game I’ve played was against Orlando Pirates reserve team in the second round of the season, where we got beaten 1-0. For me, I’d say we did not have the energy in the game, the opponents wanted it more than us but I learned a lot from this game – so it wasn’t a complete loss for me.

What do you hope to achieve with your time with Sundowns?

I want to win the MDC league so that I can get a promotion to the first team and hopefully one day play in a Caf Champions League tournament and go as far as to win it.

Who in the current Sundowns squad do you hope to play with one day?

I pray and wish that one day I can play alongside Themba Zwane!