Cuthbert Malajila
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cuthbert Lifasi Malajila | ||
| Date of birth | 3 October 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Eiffel Flats, Zimbabwe | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Mamelodi Sundowns | ||
| Number | 27 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Western Pirates | |||
| Young Swallows | |||
| 2004 | David Whitehead | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2007 | Chapungu United | 29 | (15) |
| 2007–2008 | Highlanders | 42 | (16) |
| 2008–2010 | Dynamos | 20 | (12) |
| 2010–2011 | Club Africain | 4 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Al Akhdar (loan) | ||
| 2011 | Dynamos | ||
| 2012–2013 | Maritzburg United | 41 | (15) |
| 2013– | Mamelodi Sundowns | 61 | (18) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008– | Zimbabwe | 17 | (8) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 June 2016. | |||
Cuthbert Malajila (3 October 1985 in Eiffel Flats, Mashonaland West) is a Zimbabwean footballer who plays as a forward for Premier Soccer League side Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. He also plays for the Zimbabwe national football team.[1]
Career
Club
He started at Chapungu United[2] before moving in 2006 to Highlanders and then to Dynamos Harare. While playing for Highlanders, he scored a hat-trick in a match against Masvingo United, with Highlanders winning the match 4–0.[3] He won the Golden Boot in the top division of Zimbabwean football in 2007.[4]
Malajila had a trial at Belgian club Cercle Brugge, but it ended with the club declining to offer him a contract.[5] He returned to Zimbabwe and to Dynamos afterward, and stated that his focus would be on winning the Golden Boot and in helping his club.[6] He stated that his long-term dream was still on earning a transfer abroad. The striker left his native Zimbabwe in summer 2010 and signed a professional contract of 3 years with the Tunisian side Club Africain in August 2010.[7]
Malajila became the first Zimbabwean to play professional football in Libya after signing for First Division side Al Akhdar on a six-month loan.[8] On 22 January 2012, he completed a move to South African Premier Soccer League side Maritzburg United after the two parties agreed on a transfer fee for the player.[9] In July 2013, Malajila agreed to join Mamelodi Sundowns. He made his Sundowns debut in the following August against Bloemfontein Celtic and scored his first goal for the club in the same match.[1]
International
As of June 2016, Malajila has made 17 appearances for the Zimbabwe national team. His debut came in 2008 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup/2010 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea. He scored his first goal for Zimbabwe on his second cap against Namibia, also a 2010 qualifier.[1]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 18 June 2016.[1]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[lower-alpha 1] | League Cup[lower-alpha 2] | Continental[lower-alpha 3] | Other[lower-alpha 4] | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 2013–14[1] | Premier Soccer League | 22 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 25 | 6 | |
| 2014–15[1] | Premier Soccer League | 26 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 10 | |
| 2015–16[1] | Premier Soccer League | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 5] | 0 | 17 | 3 | |
| Total | 61 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 76 | 19 | ||
| Career total | 61 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 76 | 19 | ||
- ↑ Includes the Nedbank Cup
- ↑ Includes the Telkom Knockout
- ↑ Includes the CAF Champions League
- ↑ Includes the MTN 8
- ↑ One appearance in 2015 MTN 8
International
- As of 18 June 2016.[1]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | 2008 | 2 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 17 | 8 | |
International goals
- As of 18 June 2016. Scores and results list Zimbabwe's goal tally first.[1]
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 October 2008 | Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia |  Namibia | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 17 October 2009 | Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe |  Mauritius | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2009 COSAFA Cup |
| 3 | 2–0 | |||||
| 4 | 19 October 2009 | Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe |  Lesotho | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2009 COSAFA Cup |
| 5 | 1 November 2009 | Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe |  Zambia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2009 COSAFA Cup |
| 6 | 10 September 2013 | Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa |  South Africa | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 13 June 2015 | Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre, Malawi |  Malawi | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 8 | 5 June 2016 | National Sports Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe | Malawi | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
Honours
Club
- Club Africain
- Dynamos
- Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League (1): 2011[1]
- Cup of Zimbabwe (1): 2011[1]
- Mamelodi Sundowns
- Premier Soccer League (2): 2013–14,[1] 2015–16[1]
- Nedbank Cup (1): 2014–15[1]
- Telkom Knockout (1): 2015[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Cuthbert Malajila profile". Soccerway. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Cuthbert Malajila". Higherlanders FC Official Site. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ↑ "Malajila hat-trick buries Masvingo". New Zimbabwe News. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ↑ "Malajila's Delight". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ↑ "Malajila for Belgium Trials". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ↑ "Malajila's Big Dream". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ↑ "Foot: Malajila signe pour 3ans". Club Africain Official website. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
- ↑
- ↑