Innocent Maela, an accomplished defender, was named the Orlando Pirates’ new captain for the 2022–very sad news: Orlando pirates captain innocent Maela announced his retirement due to….2023 campaign on Wednesday.
This comes after longtime captain Happy Jele left.
Additionally, goalkeeper Richard Ofori was named vice-captain by the Soweto giants.
“A captain is a leader of men, a player who embodies the core values of the club,” stated the team in a statement. Both on and off the field, he leads by example and motivates everyone around him.
“Maela embodies these ideals; he does not only live them. In his ten-year football career, the 29-year-old has never faltered and has always been reliable. Maela, 29, has completed a full circle since joining Pirates’ Academy as a small child in 2012.
The guy who goes by “Inno” was a player with Thanda Royal Zulu (2014-2017) and Witbank Spurs (2012-2014) for five years before joining the Pirates.
He led the KZN team to promotion to the Premiership in 2017. Maela was called back to the Pirates for the next season, and he has been a mainstay ever since.
Despite winning just 10 of their 30 games, Pirates came in sixth place in the 2021/22 DStv Premiership. The 2011–12 campaign was their most recent Premiership victory. Attacker Thabiso Lobitos from Chippa United and midfielder Thalente Mbatha from SuperSport United were added by the Buccaneers.
Coach Jose Riveiro only signed the two in January, sending Bienvenu Eva Nga back to the Chili Boys.
In the Premier Soccer League, Lobitos and Mbatha are not well-known players, and Maela has stepped in to support their acquisition.
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