Maluleka hopes to shine again soon for Amakhosi
THIS time last season, Stuart Baxter could not leave George Maluleka out of his Kaizer Chiefs starting lineup.
With Bernard Parker injured, Maluleka was given the No 10 role and got among the goals as Amakhosi swept aside opponents in an unbeaten first half of the season.
But things have not gone quite so well for Maluleka this year. He has been in and out of Chiefs’ starting lineup, but he remains hopeful that he will get an opportunity to prove himself in the first XI soon.
Maluleka is yet to start for Amakhosi this season, the former SuperSport United man coming on as a substitute in five games in all competitions under coach Steve Komphela.
“Last season we had a good start and key players were injured,” Maluleka, 26, said yes- terday. “We needed to step up and we did.
“I’ve had a slow start this season, but I am getting game time more and more. I want to get my form and break into the starting lineup.
“I have been working very hard and it’s never easy.
“I am enjoying working with [Komphela]. I worked with him before at under-23 level. With him work is work and then there’s time to joke as well. “He is professional.” Maluleka will be hoping to play a part when fourth-placed Amakhosi take on his former side SuperSport at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday (6pm) as PSL football returns after the Fifa international break. Maluleka said: “The break has been good. After the game against Celtic [in the MTN8], we had a couple of things to rectify and we have been working hard in training.
“They [SuperSport] have signed a lot of good players and are contenders for the title.
He added: “We enjoy playing in Polokwane. It’s a home away from home for us. The support base we have there is great.”
Maluleka insists the Chiefs players will not be thinking about next weekend’s MTN8 final against Ajax Cape Town when they play Matsatsantsa.
“No one has spoken about the final this week. We have our heads wrapped around the game in Polokwane,” he said.