Innocent Maela gives huge hint over Orlando Pirates future

Maela has battled injuries and found it tough to break into the starting line-up under coach Jose Riveiro, only managing 11 games in the current campaign. 

Reports have suggested the 32-year-old is likely to call time on his playing days and take up a role within the Pirates structures at the end of the season, and his latest comments seem to confirm this.

"I think in life, just like anything else, you have to allow succession to happen because we all know you can't play the game forever," said Maela.

"So if you have an opportunity and God has placed you in a position where you can influence the next generation, you have to take it with both hands.

"But also, you need to have the grave within yourself to accept it because it's easy and nice to have grace when things are happening for you, but it's very difficult not to have the same grace when things are not happening.

"So I think for me, personally, I truly believe I've had that grace within myself and I thank God and the people that groomed me, when I was young, to be in this position right now.

"And I think it's a privilege – more than anything else – to influence the people that are coming after me because, like I'm saying, you can't play the game forever, and I think I've done extremely well for myself, for the club.

"But we'll see happens, the season is not done yet, but when the time is right, the club will give out a statement and I will give out a statement, and we will take it from there.

"But it's been a privilege and an honour for me to be in this position to influence the people that are coming after me, and after us."

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