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Maluleka Sends Warning To Bucs Ahead Of MTN8 Final

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AmaZulu midfielder George Maluleka has sent a stern warning to Orlando Pirates ahead of the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium next month, saying he will do the damage to them once again just like he did eight years ago.

The last time Maluleka played against Pirates in the MTN8 final he did the damage to them when he was in the colours of Kaizer Chiefs at the same venue in Durban on 20 September 2014.

 

 

Maluleka floated in a delicious free-kick and while Pirates’ defence then, led by Siyabonga Sangweni, the late Senzo Meyiwa in goals, Ayanda Gcaba, Thabo Matlaba, were left zonal marking, Tefu Mashamaite was left unmarked to nod in an easy finish, leaving Meyiwa exposed in goals to see Chiefs win the competition.

The 33-year-old Maluleka is in another final of the MTN8 once again after Usuthu beat his former Chiefs 1-1 on aggregate score, with the game on Sunday in Durban finishing in a goalless draw.

On the other hand, Pirates reached the final of the MTN8 after crushing Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo on Saturday.

“I see history repeating itself,” said Maluleka, who was named man of the match, to the iDiski Times.

“I see history repeating itself again in this venue.”

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Kermit Erasmus, who is now back at the Soweto giants after re-joining the club recently, was part of Vladimir Vermezevic’s Pirates side on that day in Durban.

Erasmus scored the first goal for Pirates as they thumped Sundowns on Saturday to reach the final for the second time in three years.

Lehlohonolo Majoro, who is now at AmaZulu, replaced Thandani Ntshumayelo for Pirates in the second half of that game.

AmaZulu are in the final of the MTN8 for the first time in the PSL era. However, this is their second final in the PSL, after reaching their first – the Nedbank Cup final in 2010. The club’s last major trophy was the Coca-Cola Cup in 1992 which is 30 years now.

Having won seven trophies with Chiefs and Sundowns respectively, Maluleka is determined to help Usuthu and his teammates to finally grab a trophy.

 

“This group is very special, they are very ambitious,’ said Maluleka.

“It is players who still want to win, players who haven’t won any trophies. They want to be in that space of winning. So we are all going to push to make sure that we go all the way and win it.”

If AmaZulu win this trophy, it will be the third MTN8 trophy for Maluleka. He also won it last season with Sundowns in Durban when the Tshwane giants beat Cape Town City on penalties.

Maluleka will also be the second player at Usuthu to have won this trophy three times with three different clubs alongside Gadadinho Mhango.

Mhango won this cup with Bidvest Wits in 2016/17 season and with Pirates in 2020/21 season. Majoro has been the runners-up in this competition three times.

 

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