Thapelo Maleka is called Malume by many due to the way he reacts while on the field. He is calm, passionate and of course touches the ball like a GOAT; a term used to describe the likes Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Thapelo likes to analyse the game and stay focused at all times.
“Without my family I am literally a walking human being with no purpose in life. They redirected me, thought me to be disciplined and caring,” Thapelo says. “Being disciplined is something that most soccer players are lacking and they forget that your references determines what happens in the future. Playing soccer saved me from lot of things that might have damaged me and my future. Junior Khanye once said ,in football they is no CV your reputation matters! Those words keeps me going each and every day in my career knowing that my reputation is my only image.
In 2014 he played for the Limpopo based team, Boyne Tiger FC. In 2015, he played for Magezi FC; in the 2016 – 2017 season he also played for Limpopo’s Baroka FC and from 2019 till now he still plays for uThongathi FC, also known as the Cane Cutters, a team from Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal. They currently play in the South African National First Division.
“Slow progress is still progress!”
Thapelo told Blazon Magazine that he has a lot faith and is very patient. Everything will flow into place when the time is right. 6 months with hamstring injury was one of Thapelo’s most difficult and challenging experiences in his football career.