JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 01: Innocent Maela of Orlando Pirates during the Orlando Pirates media open day at Rand Stadium on October 01, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Alche Greeff/Gallo Images)
As previously reported by Soccer Laduma, the two parties have been in talks since early this year, and sources close to both the club and the player have indicated that an agreement is believed to be close.
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The sources added that the new contract could keep the Mpumalanga-born defender at the club until June 30, 2027.
“I know the club hasn’t announced yet but all the parties involved have agreed to a two-year contract with a one-year option. You know his contract was expiring in June this year. So the new contract is from July this year until June 2026 but with a one-year option it could go on until June 2027,” the Siya source stated.
A second Siya source stated that the club wanted to retain certain senior players to have an experienced team, and Maela, as the captain, is a key figure in this strategy.
“If you look at the current squad, he is the longest serving member and the club wants to keep him so that he helps the new players. Also the younger players understand the culture of the club and that’s why he is the captain even if he won’t be playing as much as other defenders or players. So the new contract is two years plus a one-year option,” the second source stated.
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The 32-year-old joined Pirates in 2017 from the team’s youth development and was loaned to Thanda Royal Zulu, where he captained the team to gain promotion to the DStv Premiership before the team was sold to AmaZulu.
Since returning to Pirates, he has been a regular until this season, where Deon Hotto has played in the left-back position for most of the games.
Soccer Laduma contacted Pirates and Maela’s agent, Mmatsatsi Sefalafala, but there was no response at the time of preparing this story.
Maela’s potential new contract with Pirates underscores the club’s commitment to maintaining a blend of experience and youth within the squad. Maela’s role extends beyond the pitch, providing leadership and continuity. The new contract ensures that he remains a pivotal part of the team as they navigate the upcoming seasons.
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