I’ll be honest with you

THAT ACKNOWLEDGE “WE IT WAS VERY PLAYERS. AS FOR US DISAPPOINTING IT, BUT I NOT TO MAKE A WAS ALSO THINK IT CURVE…” LEARNING

The Orlando Pirates ship has been sailing the waters without its captain for the better part of the last three months as Innocent Maela works his way back to full fitness after undergoing surgery for a mystery injury he seems not too keen to provide more information on. As a result of this setback, “Deco”, as football lovers prefer to refer to him, has

missed some crucial matches for the club. Not only that, but he also had to pull out of Bafana Bafana duty, a pity indeed considering his quality. When is the Witbank-born star expected back in the thick of things? What role, if any, is he currently playing from the sidelines? What happened with the Buccaneers’ CAF Champions League exit? And can the team exorcise their league demons and finally win the Holy Grail of South African football after having last done it in their double treble years? These are some of the questions Soccer Laduma’s Delmain Faver fires in the direction of the soft-spoken player in this interview, and in typical defender fashion, Maela tackles them head-on. You better read on!

Delmain Faver: Inno, this niggling injury doesn’t seem to want to let up and has kept you out of some crucial games not only for Orlando Pirates but also for the national team…

Innocent Maela: Injuries are never a good thing. It was disappointing for me to go through what I’ve been going through, but it’s an opportunity for me to come back stronger. As we know, I’ve been missing out on a few matches, with the inclusion of the national team also, considering that the Africa Cup of Nations is around the corner. But, look, I’m busy with rehab at the moment and I’m confident that I’ll be back and I’ll be stronger – these things happen, you know. It’s football, you can’t predict (the future), you just have to take it when it happens and make sure that you come back stronger.

DF: When the body breaks down as often as yours has in the last few months, how important is the strength of the mind, because we understand that often how soon one recovers from an injury hastodowi th the mental aspect of it?

IM: Ja, well, look, for me it’s not the first time that this is happening. I’ve had operations before in the past and I know that the support structure is very important to help you with your mental health issues and stuff, make sure that you’re in the right space so that you focus on your rehab and that you give it your best. It’s not easy, I have to say it’s not easy, but with me personally, I’ve been blessed to have a proper support structure, you know. My family has been there, my friends, and also my teammates have been supporting me, so I’m confident that I will come back even stronger!

DF: Can you with us what this is?

IM: Unfortunately, I can’t share (that) with you. But I had an operation… but I can’t be extensive about it.

please share kind of injury

DF: You guys managed to break that league hoodoo against Kaizer Chiefs in the most recent Soweto Derby and you currently hold the bragging rights of Soweto. Going into that clash of titans, Orlando Pirates had turned a corner after some disappointing results. How important was that result?

IM: Ja, loo k, winning is always important. It gives you the confidence that puts the team in the right space. Especially building up to the Soweto Derby, it was important for us to get that win and make sure that when we built up and prepared for the game, everyone was in the right space mentally. But (in) the Soweto Derby, form doesn’t count. It’s about who wants it the most on the day and my team was there from the first minute until the last.

DF: The match was won by a player, in Evidence Makgopa, that a certain section of the fanbase has taken its time to get used to. How much of a morale booster was it for him and the rest of the debutants to get that first derby win under their belts?

IM: For the ones that made their debut in the Soweto Derby, we always encourage them to focus on the game plan, to play the game and not the occasion and to make sure that they listen to the coach’s instructions and go out there and do what they’ve been doing all along, which is performing and playing to the best of their abilities, playing within the team. They did that and they were okay. We were there to support them, the team supported them and collectively I believe they were fine.

DF: There’s so many leaders in the Buccaneers team. However, Tapelo Xoki is the one that has been donning the armband in your absence. Would you give us some insight into your role now that you are away from the field? IM:

Look, ever since I was appointed captain, I remember very well that I always preached the message that everyone needs to be responsible and accountable. I would always encourage and motivate players to take responsibility within themselves and make sure that when they go out there, they play a leadership role.

DF: Go on… IM:

Coming back to your question, me and Tapelo are very close… Thabang (Monare), (Richard) Ofori also. I mean, it really doesn’t matter who wears the armband on the day. We have to make sure that as players, we are all responsible and making sure that we do our jobs to the best of our abilities. And I mean, there’s harmony, there’s chemistry, we support each other. Recently, I haven’t been playing much, but I’m still there for the team, I’m still supporting them. My role is still the same, it’s just that now I’m not on the field with them, I’m with them spiritually. But ja, we are there, leading the team, guiding the gents, making sure that there’s harmony and chemistry and making sure that we constantly remind ourselves that we are there to serve the club and nothing else. We must make sure that when we leave Orlando Pirates, our names must be remembered for as long as possible.

DF: Prior to your wins against Amakhosi and Sekhukhune United, you had surprisingly lost to Cape Town Spurs and Richards Bay

FC, not to menIM: tion drawing against Polokwane City. How difficult was this period and what would you attribute the turn of events to?

IM: I mean, it wasn’t easy. It wasn’t an easy period for us. We had a rough patch, but even in pre-season we told ourselves that we will win matches and we will go through a stage where we are not doing so well. For us, (it) is to stay together, to support each other and make sure that we work harder than ever to make sure that we bounce back. To point out what exactly was the issue is beyond my capabilities. If I was a coach, I was gonna answer you, ha, ha! But, look, we know that we need to improve, that we need to do better. We acknowledge that and we are working hard on it.

DF: In terms of trophies, three in two years is a very good return for any team. The cry of the Ghost, however, has been for the league title. As players, what do you think it will take for you guys to be able to go all the way and win it?

IM: When we start the season, we want to win all the trophies. It comes with the expectations of this brand and the magnitude of this club. We try really hard to be consistent in how we play because how we play gives us results. So, if we can fix the matter of being consistent in how we perform, then we will definitely get more wins and that will take us closer to chaleventually lenging for the league and winning it. We know where we need to improve and we are working on it. I mean, it’s not an overnight process – it takes time and we urge our people to be patient with us. We will get it right! We have a good squad, a quality squad and one that is worthy of winning the league, and we promise that we will get it right.

DF: Speaking of getting it right, many people figured that Pirates’ reLeague turn to the CAF Champions by virtue of finishing second in the DStv Premiership would be a positive omen, considering how well the club does whenever you are part of it. However, it ended before the competition really started. What happened?

IM: We wanted to go all the way, the club deserves that, and we acIt knowledge that as players. was very disappointing for us not to make it, but I think it was also

a learning curve, especially

when you look at our squad. Most of the players that are here have never played continental football before, so it was a learning curve and we have an opportunity this season to go back and qualify and that is what we want to do. We want to be there, progress, learn and compete with the best in the continent. At the moment, it is what it is, but we acknowledge the mistakes and we take the lessons going forward.

DF: Inno, almost every seas on or so, we see a superstar emerge from Pir ates. The likes of Thembinkosi Lorch and Monnapule Saleng are recent examples. Now Relebobuilding hile Mofokeng is in the so to speak! From the inside, how are you as senior players keeping the boy grounded? IM: First and foremost, MofoHe keng is a very humble boy. is very grounded, which makes our job easy with him because when you talk to him, he listens an dhe listens to understand, and I think that quality that he has will take him very, very far.

DF: You reckon?

In terms of him being a star, he is very far from that, I’ll be honwith est you. He is far, far, far from that. There’s still a lot of work that he needs to put in and there’s still a lot of things that he needs to improve on, an d he acknowledges this. Yes, the fans love him, they like him, but he needs to stay close to reality and focus on his game and block out all the outside noise. We tell him that all the time, to say, “Work hard, stay grounded, you’ve just only started now. Do not allow people to take you so high and then they leave you there. Work on your game, improve and when the time is right, you’ll also see that improvement.” For now, we tell him to work hard and keep his head down.