Maela’s derby advice for Bucs’ newbies

INNOCENT Maela was wet behind the ears when he joined Orlando Pirates, but this afternoon he’ll have to man up and guide his troops to a win in the Soweto derby.

It is not going to be an easy task for the new captain of the Sea Robbers even though the the club is high on confidence after securing back-to-back wins, including against Mamelodi Sundowns away.

Pirates beat Sundowns 3-0 in the MTN8 semi-final last Saturday to win the tie 3-0 on aggregate and reach the final where they’ll face Amazulu.

Such exploits tend to get into players’ heads as they tend to think they’ve arrived and can beat any opponent without even trying.

So with rivals Kaizer Chiefs underdogs after a three-game winless run heading to the derby at FNB Stadium, it could be easy for Pirates to take them for granted.

And that’s why Maela has to intervene and make his peers understand that what is gone is gone and form counts for nothing in the Soweto derby.

“There’ll always be pressure when you play in the Soweto derby. But we are confident we’ll do well. We believe in the team and structure,” Maela said.

Before being appointed as the Pirates skipper this term, Maela was a newbie at the club four seasons ago, needing the guidance of the seniors as well.

That’s why he knows that the magnitude of this encounter could make or break a player’s career – especially for the newbies.

Pirates signed at least nine players during the transfer window and will likely have some derby debutantes, including Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo.

Ndlondlo made his Pirates debut against Sundowns in the sold-out MTN8 semi-final, but the buzz of that game is secondary compared to the derby. And that’s where Maela’s leadership role comes in. He has to ensure that his teammates keep their focus.

“I always tell them to focus on their game and do the right things. They must trust the team effort and not try to be a standout player,” Maela explained.

“I always tell the players, especially the new ones, that when you play you must try to believe in the team and that your time to shine will come.”

The Soweto derby is perfectly set to be a rehearsal for Pirates who’ll begin their November 5 MTN8 final preparations early next week.

But Maela says they are not obsessed with winning the derby heading to the final, given that a game presents its own features and challenges as well.

“It’s very important for us to win on Saturday, that will boost our confidence. But I don’t think if we don’t, that will disturb our momentum,” Maela said.

“One match doesn’t define a team but it’s important to win and collect all three points just like in any other league match that we play this season.”