Maleka’s had his time, now he ensures others can have theirs

Former Ama Zulu and Moroka Swallows striker Mpho Maleka is a bona fide optimist who takes pride in keeping a cool head when everything around him is falling apart.

Maleka was part of the Swallows squad that came a stone’s throw away from winning the league title with Gordon Igesund – Orlando Pirates’ 4-2 win at Golden Arrows on the final day of the 2011/12 campaign was enough to give them the title, despite Moroka Swallows’ 1-0 win at Maritzburg United.

“During my days at Swallows, I gave my all. When we won a game I used to go to my room and cry after a game, those were tears of joy. I am an emotional person. It felt good to play for Gordon and we were a family,” Maleka reflecting on his time with the Dube Birds.

The 40-year-old played for numerous clubs in the Absa Premiership and National First Division before hanging up his boots.

Maleka had hopes of securing an overseas deal before completing his move to Ama Zulu in 2008, which ended after just one season when he received a text message from Usuthu official James Dlamini.

“I didn’t have an agent at the time and I had a few people helping me with contracts and so on. I just got the SMS from James Dlamini (current general manager at Royal Eagles) while I was at home in Limpopo during the off-season, I called him after reading the SMS, we spoke and I knew my time with the club was up. I didn’t take it to heart. I was disappointed but I moved on from it,” Maleka said, laughing as he told the story.

He was signed by Free State Stars the same week he was shown the exit door at Usuthu.

Maleka’s last club was Baroka and since retiring in 2014, he has got his Caf C and D coaching licences and is currently studying for his Caf B licence.

Maleka is also a motivational speaker and believes imparting knowledge to schoolkids will help make them better sports stars and members of society.

Maleka, a devoted father and husband who shares his time between his family, church and football says separating what is important from what isn’t will help footballers stay on track with their sights firmly set on the goals they set out at the beginning of their careers.

“My life is set up like a triangle. Each person in the world has a calling and you need to try and find what it is you are here for.

“I go to schools and talk to the kids who play sport and guide them. I am a role model and away from football I am at my house then I go to church. That’s all I do,” he said.