Growing young at 35! Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder not ready to call it a day

The veteran player is keen to continue serving South African football despite his advancing age.

Experienced former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder George Maluleka is not ready to hang up his boots despite his advancing age.

The 35-year-old was among the players released by the Premier Soccer League side AmaZulu after the conclusion of the 2023/24 season.

The veteran Central midfielder did not enjoy his campaign owing to injuries; he played 17 matches for Usuthu across all competitions, with just two starts. 

Will Maluleka retire after Usuthu exit?

Even after being shown the exit door alongside Augustine Kwema, Veluyeke Zulu, and Victor Letsoalo, Maluleka is determined to rise again.

“I’m a baller, I’m still a baller, I love football, I’m passionate about it. I’m still club hunting, and I believe something will come up,” he said in an interview with MSW.

“My agent is still out there trying to make sure we get the right deal, but I still have a lot in my legs, so I’m not about to hang the boots just as yet.

“I have always said I love this game so much. I think at this point in time, money is the last thing on my mind. I’ve always been on the field, and that’s where I want to be. So, I just want to play.”

Did Maluleka betray Chiefs?

In the 2019/20 season, Maluleka was a key player for Amakhosi who were chasing the Premier Soccer League title.

He, however, was let go after signing a pre-contract with Mamelodi Sundowns who eventually beat Amakhosi to the title.

“I wanted to finish what I started [at Amakhosi], which was to win the league and then move, but that couldn’t happen, unfortunately. It was unfortunate [because] we couldn’t agree on terms [with the management,” the former Bafana international recalls. 

Maluleka insists he is ready for the new season once he secures a new team, ” I’m fully recovered, and that’s one of the first questions I get a lot. I have been training, and I have been seeing my  [biokineticist] a lot more. He works specifically on those muscles, the specific muscles,” he concluded.