A few days ago, at the Buccaneers’ new jersey launch, Innocent Maela spoke as if he knew he would be handed the captain’s armband.
A few days ago, at the Buccaneers’ new jersey launch, Innocent Maela spoke as if he knew he would be handed the captain’s armband.
The club has since announced the star as the club's new skipper, and he explained what such an honour means to him.
The captain’s armband at the Soweto giants had been left vacant after the departure of long-serving Happy Jele, who spent 16 years at club.
Pirates have decided to hand over the captain’s duties to Maela, the club’s academy graduate, with goalkeeper Richard Ofori set to serve as his vice-captain for the 2022/23 season.
Maela, who joined Pirates in 2017 after leaving as a youngster, is in familiar territory was the captain when Thanda Royal Zulu gained promotion to the Premiership in 20217.
“We’ll hear an announcement from the club, but if the decision has been made, I will grab it,” Maela told the media prior to the club confirming he is the new captain in a year Pirates celebrate the club's 85th anniversary.
“I don’t think it’s pressure, but responsibility, yes. I’ve been saying that everyone should be responsible. It would be an honour to captain the team. But there wouldn’t be any pressure because we are a team.
“My teammates would be there to support me. But if the management and coaches gave the armband to someone else, I know that I’d be there to support that person. It doesn’t matter who wears the armband. As long as everyone is accountable, responsible and knows that they need to deliver on the pitch, then we’ll be sorted.”
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