Cuthbert Malajila


Cuthbert Malajila 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.

Career

Club

He started at Chapungu United 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. He won the Golden Boot in the top division of Zimbabwean football in 2007.
Malajila had a trial at Belgian club Cercle Brugge, but it ended with the club declining to offer him a contract. 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. 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.
Malajila became the first Zimbabwean to play professional football in Libya after signing for First Division side Al Akhdar on a six-month loan. 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. 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.

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.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

. Scores and results list Zimbabwe's goal tally first.
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
126 March 2008Botswana National Stadium, Gaborone, Botswana2–42–4Friendly
212 October 2008Sam Nujoma Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia2–42–42010 FIFA World Cup qualification
317 October 2009Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe1–03–02009 COSAFA Cup
417 October 2009Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe2–03–02009 COSAFA Cup
519 October 2009Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe1–02–22009 COSAFA Cup
61 November 2009Rufaro Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe3–13–12009 COSAFA Cup
710 September 2013Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa2–02–1Friendly
813 June 2015Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre, Malawi1–02–12017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
95 June 2016National Sports Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe3–03–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

Club

;Club Africain
;Dynamos
;Mamelodi Sundowns
Bidvest Wits fc
1 2016/17
1 2016/2017