When Orlando Pirates unveiled Jose Riveiro in June last year, the announcement was met with so much criticism from some sections of the fraternity as some fans were asking who the Spanish mentor was. After all, little was known about him at the time. But one of the few people who were so confident that the coach deserved a chance at the Soweto giants was Cape Town-born fitness trainer Leroy Maluka, a former footballer, who is based in Finland, where he works at Espoon Palloseura. Maluka previously worked at the same club as the Spaniard, FC Inter, although the Mzansi lad was in the development ranks while Riveiro was in the senior team as an assistant. He is also close friends with Buccaneers fitness trainer Miguel Bellver and they have always maintained a good relationship since the latter's arrival in South Africa. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Masebe Qina, Maluka reflects on the season that was, 2022/23, for the Soweto giants under Riveiro and his technical team.
Masebe Qina: Welcome back to the pages of Soccer Laduma, Leroy. You were recently in Belgium. What was that about?
Leroy Maluka: Ja, it was a trip related to my career because as you might know, at the moment I'm the Head of Performance in my club. I went to Belgium just to go and see the methodology applied to those kinds of things. I spent two days at Anderlecht and I spent another two days with Westerlo.
MQ: How was the experience?
LM: Amazing experience! It was a beautiful experience and it was exciting at the same time, and I got what I wanted basically.
MQ: You were a professional footballer and then a coach and now are a fitness trainer. How has the adjustment been?
LM: I love what I am doing and it's my passion. I've always had passion for the physical aspect of the game, but I have always known that I have to always dedicate myself as much as I possibly can to the job that I am doing. I did my part as a coach and then made the transition to the physical aspect of the game and I am enjoying it.
MQ: Do you have any plans of coming back to work in South Africa in future?
LM: I'm always open to new possibilities and opportunities and there just haven't been opportunities that have presented themselves for me to come there. So, yeah, there haven't been opportunities for me to come back to South Africa as that's what would decide me coming back, you know – opportunities.
MQ: You were one of the people who were confident from the word go that Jose Riveiro would do well as the head coach of Orlando Pirates. He's gone on to win two trophies in his first season. Do you feel you were proven right?
LM: We speak on a monthly basis, me and the physical trainer (Miguel Bellver), and I have been following what they have been doing and achieved. They are top professionals, all of them, and fortunately I know them personally and I am not surprised with what they have achieved. I am just happy that they did what everyone said they couldn't do.
MQ: How did Bellver feel when the negative comments were made about them on social media after their appointment?
LM: I didn't really pay attention, but I don't think it affected him in any way. People will always have opinions, especially on social media, and for us as professionals, we just have to focus on what we have to focus on and do the work that needs to be done.
MQ: With the Soweto giants going to the CAF Champions League this season, can the club's supporters expect more success under Riveiro and his technical team?
LM: Listen, this is a difficult question to answer, but I think they will be consistent. I don't know what is happening inside the club and I don't know what is happening and the changes, so it's very difficult for me to speak on them. But as I know them and being the professionals that they are and they are very ambitious, they are going to want to prove themselves all the time.
MQ: What's the best way to handle such situations when fans criticise you?
LM: The best thing is to focus. You can always go to the drawing board to reflect on why certain things happened the way they have. As a professional, you have to be focused at all times and trust the process and if there is a need to go back to see where things went wrong, you can do that. The most important thing is to focus on you work.
MQ: We have seen Bucs going to Spain for their pre-season. Do you think that is going to help the team in their performances this campaign?
LM: Well, I think this is new for South Africa, but it's quite common in Europe, where this happens. But I think it was an opportunity for the coach and the players to stay focused on the goal and the process and their objectives. I am sure that there had been no disturbances there as they were taken to a different environment and that can be so important for the players to be in such a situation. I have no doubt that the trip to Spain is going to benefit the coach and the players in as far as building that cohesion and the relationships. Mentally, I think it's going to help the players because in South Africa, most of the games are played in hot weather and, in my opinion, it made sense for the club to go to Spain when it was hot.
MQ: Do you have any plans of going into coaching again in future?
LM: Basically, being a fitness trainer is also being a coach. A lot of people get it wrong because maybe they don't understand the importance of being a fitness trainer, but the fitness trainer has a lot of impact on the coach's decision in terms of designing or planning the training for the week. Ja, I will be a fitness trainer for the rest of my career and this is something that I want to pursue to reach the highest level possible. Every year, I try to go somewhere and learn something new. For example, last year I was in Valencia and Villarreal and then this year, I went to Belgium and I also have another trip coming up, but I won't reveal it yet. For me, it's very important to be exposed to different methodologies and different football cultures so that in the end, I can come up with my own methodology and philosophy.
MQ: When was the last time you were in Cape Town?
LM: I think it's been two-and-a-half years. I do miss a lot of people back home, like my dad and my brothers and friends. Cape Town is beautiful, but there's so much to see in the world. I would rather go and see something different and new in Europe.
MQ: What do you think of Cape Town Spurs' promotion to the elite league under coach Shaun Bartlett?
LM: Ja, that's amazing. You know, again, it took time and that's why I mentioned about trusting the process earlier. You've got to believe and that's why they have achieved what they have achieved. I'm very happy for them and I'm up-to-date with South African football. Kurt Lentjies is one of my best friends and we talk quite often.
MQ: Would you like to work with Lentjies in future seeing he is a coach?
LM: Ja, and it's been long since I last saw him and working with him would be amazing, of course. Ja, like I said, it's about the opportunity presenting itself and everything else would come after that.
MQ: Leroy, let's leave it there for now. keep flying the Mzansi flag high!
LM: No worries. You're welcome. Take care.
