Maluach Taking Plenty From Idols' Games

Makuach Maluach may have become a Sydney King in recent days, but he says he won’t forget the opportunity afforded to him to play with two of his childhood idols at Melbourne United.

Maluach was born in Uganda, but moved to Australia at the age of 10 – from there he and his brothers moved to Armidale in north-eastern New South Wales.

After a four-year collegiate career at New Mexico and a season playing in Finland, Maluach returned to Australia and was afforded the opportunity to suit up with a pair of players he grew up admiring.

“Brad Newley, when he played for the Kings I used to go and watch him a lot,” Maluach told SEN. “I liked his game.

“Then people like Chris Goulding – when he played for Gold Coast he came to Armidale when I was young – they had a game there so I really fell in love with his game.

“I learned a lot from them … it was good to play with those guys and they’ve got a great coach.

Makuach Maluach played with one of his childhood idols, Brad Newley, at Melbourne United last season.

“It was amazing … I learned a lot and hopefully I can put that into my career moving forward.”

Despite being months away from suiting up for the Kings for the first time, Maluach referring to his old side – and Sydney’s rivals – Melbourne United as ‘they’ will no doubt endear him to the Kings’ supporters.

What will endear him to them even more, though, is if he helps complete the second title three-peat in the history of the organisation.

“Sydney has had so much success over the last two years, and the only thing on my mind is the three-peat,” Maluach said.

“I think they’ll do a great job at putting together a roster that can compete for another championship.

“The style of play is very fast-paced and it’s an exciting brand of basketball. I feel like that suits me really well.

“I’m looking forward to complementing the other guys that like the game as well and coming in and playing with guys like Angus (Glover) … Kouat (Noi) and the rest of the boys.

“Sydney is such a big market, and it’s only right that we try and three-peat.”