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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Former Sundowns star advices Mailula</li><li>Mailula still yet to play this term</li><li>Toronto coach tells him the truth</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Mailula: Stay and battle with Insigne & Bernardeschi for a place in Toronto team - Bafana Bafana forward advised by ex-Mamelodi Sundowns star

Toronto FC head coach John Herdman recently <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/bad-news-for-cassius-mailula-bernardeschi-and-insigne-s-level-is-just-too-high-toronto-coach-herdman-on-why-bafana-bafana-forward-is-yet-to-play-this-season/blt24630fcead672584" target="_blank">provided a brutally honest explanation of why the former Masandawana is finding it difficult to crack into his first eleven</a>.The South Africa international player has been an unused substitute four times for Herdman's side after four games they played in the Major League Soccer campaign this season so far.However, with Mailula still yet to feature at the club, former Mamelodi Sundowns star Brent Carelse has given his advice on what the young man should do to overcome the difficulties.

WHAT HAPPENED

"He is a top player, he is supposed to be playing regularly, he deserves to play," Carelse told GOAL"But, yeah, he has to obviously continue working hard and wait for his chance and be ready when it comes. "He must continue to fight until his chance comes, he's a fighter and I believe he will fight. All I can say is that he must not give up," he continued. "But the only one who can decide, it's him, if he has to leave then that's a choice he will make. It will be up to him ultimately what he decides to do."

WHAT WAS SAID

The 22-year-old warms the bench as his coach prefers the former Serie A stars Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne before him.The two experienced duo of Insigne and Bernardeschi played for SSC Napoli and Juventus, respectively. They possess an experience that Mailula is still yet to gain.Mailula played for Sundowns before he left for Toronto last year. He had a splendid season for Rhulani Mokwena's side during the 2022/23 PSL campaign.However, that cannot match the experience of his competitors at Toronto, as the coach explained.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Sundowns academy graduate will be hoping to feature when Toronto take on Atlanta United this coming Sunday in the league's encounter.However, reading between the lines in the coach's remarks, it could take time for Mailula to get a chance to play, as he has to wait for Insigne and Bernardeschi to be unavailable so he can play.

WHAT'S NEXT

Mailula: Stay and battle with Insigne & Bernardeschi for a place in Toronto team - Bafana Bafana forward advised by ex-Mamelodi Sundowns star | Goal.com

Cassius Mailula has been urged to stay put at Toronto FC and show his coach why he deserves to play for the MLS club.

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