CALLING TIME

ORLANDO PIRATES STALWART INNOCENT MAELA HAS BEEN A LOYAL SERVANT TO THE BUCCANEERS

- By Mazola Molefe

In March this year, Orlando Pirates club captain Innocent Maela took a break from football to tie the knot, but a few weeks later the 32-year-old all but indicated an even longer pause from the game might be imminent.

Maela began his career with Witbank Spurs in his home town before joining Thanda Royal Zulu and later making a move that would bring the left back into the spotlight he now has when signing for the Soweto giants.

Over 200 appearances later for Pirates, many would argue that the softly spoken Maela could even add 50 more matches.

But with injuries forcing him to have one operation after another, Maela gave the biggest hint yet that he might settle down for good.