Sundowns coach Mokwena calls for patience with promising Mailula

“We also have Ntando Nkosi who is with the first team now. He got a bit of a setback but he is a youngster who is going to be something special.

“The good thing is you have players who have quality and experience around Cassius, which is important. Training with Themba Zwane, Peter Shalulile, Haashim Domingo, Lesedi Kapinga and Gift Motupa every day will make these youngsters better.

“The future is bright and we can move into the space where young talent comes through the youth system to the first team rather than from outside to the first team.”

Mokwena said Mailula will only improve by getting minutes on the pitch in matches.

“Offensive players only improve through experience, young players that play in the defensive or midfield line can get better through training — through a lot of assistance with simulating situations.

“Players like Cassius will only get better with being on the pitch, because you can’t simulate these situations. You can’t simulate pressure, you can’t simulate pressure situations where you have scored in the previous game and this game you don’t score.

“[Situations where] the angle is like this in this situation and three second later you have a bit more space. Offensive players have to be on the pitch to get better and that is the process for Cassius and [22-year-old Ethiopian forward signing] Nasir Abubeker.”

Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.