Cuthbert Malajila

Cuthbert Malajila (3 October 1985 in Rimuka Kadoma, Mashonaland West) is a Zimbabwean footballer who plays as a forward for Premier Soccer League side Black Leopards in South Africa. He also plays for the Zimbabwe national football team.[1]

Cuthbert Malajila
Personal information
Full name Cuthbert Lifasi Malajila
Date of birth (1985-10-03) 3 October 1985
Place of birth Rimuka, Kadoma, Zimbabwe
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Black Leopards
Number 28
Youth career
Western Pirates
Young Swallows
2004 David Whitehead
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Chapungu United 29 (25)
2007–2008 Highlanders 42 (16)
2008–2010 Dynamos 20 (27)
2010–2011 Club Africain 4 (0)
2011 → Al Akhdar (loan) (1)
2011 Dynamos (4)
2012–2013 Maritzburg United 41 (15)
2013–2019 Mamelodi Sundowns 64 (18)
2016–2017 → Bidvest Wits (loan) 25 (4)
2019– Black Leopards 4 (0)
National team‡
2008– Zimbabwe 31 (9)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:22, 19 November 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 March 2017

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]
Statistics
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental[lower-alpha 3] Other[lower-alpha 4] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Mamelodi Sundowns 2013–14[1] Premier Soccer League 2261020—00256
2014–15[1] Premier Soccer League 2610503000003410
2015–16[1] Premier Soccer League 1322110001[lower-alpha 5]0173
Total 6118816000107619
Career total 6118816000107619
  1. Includes the Nedbank Cup
  2. Includes the Telkom Knockout
  3. Includes the CAF Champions League
  4. Includes the MTN 8
  5. One appearance in 2015 MTN 8

International
As of 18 June 2016.[1][10]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Zimbabwe 200862
200954
201020
201120
201210
201331
201420
201521
201641
201730
Total319

International goals
As of 18 June 2016. Scores and results list Zimbabwe's goal tally first.[1]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
126 March 2008Botswana National Stadium, Gaborone, Botswana Namibia2–42–4Friendly
212 October 2008Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia Namibia2–42–42010 FIFA World Cup qualification
317 October 2009Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe Mauritius1–03–02009 COSAFA Cup
42–0
519 October 2009Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe Lesotho1–02–22009 COSAFA Cup
61 November 2009Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe Zambia3–13–12009 COSAFA Cup
710 September 2013Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa South Africa2–02–1Friendly
813 June 2015Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre, Malawi Malawi1–02–12017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
95 June 2016National Sports Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe Malawi3–03–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

Club
Club Africain
Dynamos
Mamelodi Sundowns

Bidvest Wits fc ( Premier soccer League) 1 2016/17 (Mtn cup ) 1 2016/2017

References
  1. "Cuthbert Malajila profile". Soccerway. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  2. "Cuthbert Malajila". Higherlanders FC Official Site. Archived from the original on 10 August 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  3. "Malajila hat-trick buries Masvingo". New Zimbabwe News. Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  4. "Malajila's Delight". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  5. "Malajila for Belgium Trials". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  6. "Malajila's Big Dream". Allafrica.com. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  7. "Foot: Malajila signe pour 3ans". Club Africain Official website. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  10. "Malajila, Cuthbert". National Football Teams. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
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