AmaZulu midfielder George Maluleka will appear in his sixth MTN8 final this weekend when Usuthu face Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (18:00).
This will be more than any player in the current guise of the competition since the telecommunication took over as the sponsorship from Absa in 2008.
Maluleka was part of Ajax Cape Town side that was annihilated by Golden Arrows 6-0 in the final at Orlando Stadium in the 2009/10 season.
He again appeared in another final, with SuperSport United in the 2012/13 season, losing to Moroka Swallows also at Orlando Stadium.
Having left SuperSport to join Kaizer Chiefs in the second half of the 2013/14 season, Maluleka, in the following season, appeared in the final with Chiefs against Orlando Pirates. Stuart Baxter’s men won 1-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, the venue that will also be the weekend’s final.
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On that day, Maluleka delivered a free kick that was met by Tefu Mashamaite who nodded the ball into the empty net to see Chiefs win the competition.
He was again in the another MTN8 final with Chiefs in the following season, this time under coach Steve Komphela. But the Soweto giants could not defend their trophy, losing to Ajax Cape Town 1-0 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Last season Maluleka won the competition as Mamelodi Sundowns beat Cape Town City on penalty shoot outs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. But he was already on the fringes as Sundowns as he hardly played, and did not form part of the playing squad on the day.
“I’m not the only one here at AmaZulu who has been in the finals, there are a lot of guys that have been in the finals before and they have played a big role,” said Maluleka, who was named Man of the Match when Usuthu advanced to the final on away goal rule at the expense of Chiefs last weekend.
“Ramahlwe Mphahlele has been in finals (in the 2010/11 edition with Swallows, losing to Pirates on penalties at the Moses Mabhida Stadium). I think we have a team that has a good mix of players that can also advise each other and show each other the right way. I’m very lucky to be in that space.”
However, Maluleka said the mood is good in the camp since they beat Stellenbosch FC on Sunday, registering their first league win since August.
“The mood is good and obviously from the win against Stellenbosch, that was a very big confidence booster,” said Maluleka.
“I think we are in good spirits and confident. Obviously there is a lot of work in planning this week ahead of the Orlando Pirates game, but the team is in good spirits.”
Maluleka, though, was saved in that game, with coach Romain Folz opting to not feature him since he was on three yellow cards. It was also the same with Siphesihle Maduna.
