Germiston Callies athlete targets Curro Podium medal

Nkateko Maluleke is preparing to compete at the upcoming Curro Podium North event at Pilditch Stadium on September 18 and 19.

He has set his sights on making a name for himself in athletics and has been training at the Germiston Stadium.

The Germiston Callies athlete will compete in the U19 long jump, 100m and 200m events, with his sights firmly set on winning his first medal for the club.

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Although Maluleke has been involved in athletics from a young age, his passion for soccer saw him focus more on the sport while growing up. However, after matriculating last year and deciding to take a gap year, he saw an opportunity to dedicate more time to athletics.

His sporting journey could easily have taken a different direction after he was identified by scouts while playing soccer at the age of 16.

“While I was playing a normal soccer league game, the team had secretly brought in scouts to watch from the stands. After the game, they contacted my parents and started negotiations,” said Maluleke.

The opportunity was to travel to Italy for trials with some of the biggest teams. However, because he was only 16 at the time, he had to wait until he turned 18 before he could travel.

“We were only supposed to pay for the travel costs, while accommodation would be covered. But last year there were complications between the sponsor and the scout could no longer be found, so the deal fell through,” he said.

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Maluleke said all three players who had been identified for the opportunity ultimately missed out.

“When the deal fell through, it affected me mentally because I was looking forward to it,” he said.

With the soccer opportunity no longer on the table, Maluleke decided to turn his attention to athletics.

“As an athlete, I was always strong since primary school. But I had a strong liking for soccer, so I leaned more towards it. Since I am taking a gap year, I wanted to focus on my athletics,” he said.

Maluleke joined Germiston Callies this year but suffered an injury during his first round of competitions in the Central Gauteng Athletics Track and Field League.

Despite the setback, he returned to training while preparing for the Akani Simbine Classics before he got injured again and believes he is now finding his form again.

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“I returned to the track as I was preparing for the Akani Simbine Classics. The injuries affected me, but I am feeling stronger now,” he said.

With the Curro Podium North event approaching, Maluleke hopes his hard work will translate into his first medal for Germiston Callies and provide another step towards establishing himself in athletics.

His sporting achievements already include several school athletics medals, while in soccer he also boasts two league top-goalscorer awards.

Now, with athletics firmly back at the centre of his sporting ambitions, Maluleke is hoping to turn his potential into a successful competitive career.