“Judas-the traitor” sets record straight on Kaizer Chiefs exit

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder George Maluleka has addressed long-standing claims that he betrayed Amakhosi when he left for Mamelodi Sundowns midway through the 2019/20 season.

At the time, Chiefs were leading the league and chasing their first title in years. With his contract running down, negotiations between the club and Maluleka reportedly stalled, opening the door for Sundowns to swoop in. The move angered many Chiefs supporters, who still view him as a “traitor” after he went on to lift the league trophy with the Brazilians on the final day of that campaign.

Speaking on the Behind the Boot With SuperJourno podcast, Maluleka explained that the situation was far more complicated than many realised. “There were too many things happening at that time, even in the boardroom. Bobby [Motaung] was sick and had to undergo a small operation. Time was running out, then COVID-19 hit, and there were complications with my agent. I even had to involve my dad in the negotiations,” he revealed.

Maluleka insisted that he never intended to abandon Chiefs in their title push. “I love Kaizer Chiefs. I worked so hard that whole season. Does it make sense for me to just walk away when I wanted to win the trophy with the team? The league went into a bio bubble, and there was supposed to be an extension, but that contract never came to me,” he said.

He also dismissed rumours that he had signed a pre-contract as early as December. “That would have been illegal. I was still negotiating with Chiefs. People don’t understand the dynamics, but I honoured my contract and kept training. Sundowns came with an offer, and I had to make a decision.”

Reflecting on the fallout, Maluleka admitted the move took an emotional toll.

The now-retired star hinted that he may one day tell the full story in a book or documentary to help fans understand the complexities behind his controversial switch.