Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder George Maluleka has dismissed recent talks in the press suggesting he wants to leave the DStv Premiership champions.
Maluleka, who joined Sundowns after leaving Kaizer Chiefs some months before the end of the season, has not been able to play regularly at his new club. Owing to his situation at the club, the player has been reportedly linked with a loan move elsewhere.
The 32-year-old midfielder made a total of 14 appearances in all competitions for Sundowns as they won a fourth successive league title but he was not happy that he played fewer games in the campaign.
“To be honest, I think it’s because of where I was, with me playing week in and out. Now I come here (to Sundowns), I play, I don’t play, I play, I don’t play. (But) I am very happy at Sundowns and I am in a very good space. George is happy, George is not going anywhere,” the former SuperSport United and Ajax Cape Town midfielder told the media.
“I have heard about these moves. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. I am a Sundowns player and I am not going anywhere. I think (the first) season was good. I feel I contributed where I could. A lot of people didn’t give me a chance and I played. I did not play much, but I feel that I did well for my first season.”
Maluleka also spoke about his happiness at winning the fourth league title of his career.
“It’s always amazing. You can’t explain it, because you get players who play football their whole careers and they end up retiring without even winning anything. For me to have already won four titles is a big thing. I am very happy.”
It is rare to see players ever admit they want to make an exit from Sundowns, simply because of the pride and prestige that comes with playing for the Brazilians. If you add a likely title every season to the mix, you can easily see why no player would want to leave the South African giants.
However, for a player of his age, it would mean he must now make do with a largely reduced role next term.