After the end of a successful career: George Maluleka opens up about his problems with Kruger United!

Former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns player speaks about his problems with Kruger United. After the end of a successful career: George Maluleka opens up about his problems with Kruger United! In a bold move following his retirement, former football star George Maluleka has become an unexpected champion for players' rights, publicly revealing a wage dispute with his former club, Kruger United. The ex-Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder is using his own experience to shed light on a persistent issue he believes plagues South African football. Maluleka, who hung up his boots after leaving the Motsepe Foundation Championship side at the end of last season, enjoyed a distinguished career. After starring for top-flight clubs including Ajax Cape Town, SuperSport United, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, and AmaZulu FC, the Tembisa-born player returned to the National First Division (NFD) with Kruger United. His final campaign was a dramatic one, as he helped the Mpumalanga team mount a serious promotion push that agonizingly fell short on the season's final day. However, the conclusion of his playing days has been marred by a financial disagreement with the club. The 36-year-old has confirmed the dispute, framing it not just as a personal grievance, but as a stand for the silent majority of players, particularly those in the less-glamorous second tier. "It's true [having a dispute with Kruger United]. As part of SAFPU and representing the players in the league, I also need to stand up for them," Maluleka stated to FARPost. He expressed deep concern for the younger players who are often afraid to speak out, highlighting the severe impact of unpaid salaries at their level. "Some of these boys don't want to speak up when the teams owe them money, or they need to get paid. So I took it upon myself to raise these issues; it's been happening in our country and in the NFD as well." Maluleka pointed out the harsh reality for many in the NFD, where wages are lower and the financial security is more fragile. "The guys down there don't earn as much, and you can imagine if a boy goes a month or two without getting paid, what happens. I'm saying boys because these are younger guys in the NFD." Having begun his own career in the very same league as a teenager, Maluleka finds it disheartening that the problem not only persists but has grown. He is now calling for greater collective courage from his fellow professionals. "I also started there as a teenager, now I finished my career in that league, and this problem is still there, and it's becoming more and more popular. And I just want more players to speak up so that SAFPU can handle whatever that is there with the clubs and representatives." By leveraging his profile and experience, Maluleka is aiming to transform his personal dispute into a catalyst for change, urging players to break their silence and demand what they are rightfully owed.