Downs bag Chiefs star
KANNEMEYER: ALWAYS KNEW ‘MIDO’ WOULD BE A STAR
Former Amakhosi defender believes Maluleka made the right decision to switch to Sundowns.
When George Maluleka began his professional career in the top flight back in 2012, David Kannemeyer was in the twilight of his career and says he observed a young Maluleka at that time, and knew there and then that “Mido” would go on to become a household name in South African football.
Maluleka was officially unveiled as a Mamelodi Sundowns player this week after making the shift from Kaizer Chiefs, which is a road that Kannemeyer himself travelled before, having dumped the Glamour Boys for
Masandawana in the mid-2000s. “I played with him at SuperSport and he was still a young man and I could see that he would go places,” Kannemeyer told Phakaaathi Plus.
“A move is always good and I think George has done his bit with Chiefs, and won trophies with them. I don’t think there are any hard feelings, because these things happen all over the world. Of course, in South Africa when you move from Chiefs to Sundowns, people will start talking,” he added.
“George should actually be playing in Europe but players don’t want to go abroad anymore because they get big salaries here. I know there will be haters among the Chiefs fans but we need to understand that this is how football goes these days, people always look for a challenge.”
Downs recently extended Hlompho Kekana’s contract, are set to unveil Grant Margerman, still have Oupa Manyisa, Lucky Mohomi, Sammy Seabi and Tiyani Mabunda all waiting in the wings, while Andile Jali is in his prime. Essentially, coach Pitso Mosimane is spoilt for choice and Kannemeyer says Maluleka knew exactly what lay ahead of him.
“George has done his homework, he knows exactly what he is getting himself into and he is up to the challenge, and I think he has got loads of talent. A lot of players go to Sundowns and they don’t feature but I think George will feature.
“He is a very competitive player, he is a good professional and I don’t think there is a reason for him not to play. He is a very clever player, at his peak and he knows why he is going there...it is probably because he wants to get a Caf Champions League medal.”