For Kaizer Chiefs great Doctor Khumalo the departure of midfielder George Maluleka is a great loss for the Soweto giants.

Maluleka joined Amakhosi in January 2014 from SuperSport United and was part of the league and double cup-winning team in 2015.

The 31-year-old midfielder is set to join Mamelodi Sundowns after signing a pre-contract with the Brazilians earlier during the season.

The Glamour Boys have since confirmed that Maluleka will leave Amakhosi after not signing a short-term extension to complete the season.

However, Khumalo has since commented on the departure of ‘Mido’, as Maluleka is affectionately known.

‘It is a great loss, man,’ Khumalo told IOL.

‘I’m sure both parties didn’t want to end the marriage like that, but obviously there are things that are beyond the game that maybe both parties couldn’t come to terms to in terms of understanding each other.

‘It is an unfortunate situation. At the end of the day, it is all about being happy. It is all about delivering the goods for the club and you must do that with pride,’ Khumalo said. ‘But if you are not happy, there’s no ways that you are going to be able to deliver.

‘George has been a wonderful boy, I worked with him when we won the league with Stuart Baxter. I had an opportunity to talk to him when he called me to wish me a happy birthday. Obviously, as his senior, I wanted to ask how he is.

‘He did explain to me. Obviously I can divulge that. But the sound of his tone was low because he was not happy.’