Innocent Maela of Orlando Pirates during the DStv Premiership 2023/24 match between Orlando Pirates and Chippa United at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto on 08 May 2024
Muzi Ntombela, Backpages
Orlando Pirates are facing a captaincy issue, with official captain Innocent Maela, having the difficulty of leading the team from the bench.
Maela’s minutes at Pirates has been going down as the seasons progress and although he is only 32, the Buccaneers’ left-back has fallen down the pecking order, from last season.
The Witbank native made only six starts last season and came on as a substitute nine times for the Soweto giants in the Premiership.
With Ezimnyama winning the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup double last term, Maela did not make even a single start across both tournaments, as he only made three substitute cameo appearances.
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Is Maela fighting a losing course to get back into Riveiro’s regular line-up? Former Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi has seemingly questioned the idea of a captain that sits on the bench, although he sympathizes with the 32-year-old.
“Healthy competition is tough hey, I think for Maela is a good motivation that he’s competing with two good players, [Paseka] Mako [and Don Hotto]. I think for him he must work extra-hard, there’s no time for him to relax,” Lekgwathi said on Radio 2000.
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“Because as a captain sitting on the bench, it must say something to you. I think for him he must work extra-hard. But I like his attitude, even when he comes on for three minutes, he always performs and leads by example. As a senior player he must do that. We need senior players in our team.”
Is there a future for the 32-year-old at Pirates?
“For me I’m happy because he can play centre-back, there was a time last season defenders were injured and he was playing centre-back, so he’s got the opportunity to play as a centre-back,” Lekgwathi added.
Tapelo Xoki initially wore the armband when Maela was not starting and after his injury, Olisa Ndah has been captaining the Soweto giants.
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