As Orlando Pirates prepare for life after long-serving defender Innocent Maela, the Siya Crew looks back at the veteran’s career in black and white, told strictly in numbers.
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The 32-year-old has been one of the most consistent and reliable figures at Mayfair over the past decade, racking up a total of 209 competitive appearances across all major competitions. His numbers speak volumes about his impact, versatility and leadership during one of the club’s most transitional eras.
Swipe through the gallery to relive Maela’s biggest moments in black and white.
Maela featured 148 times in the league, 16 times in the Nedbank Cup, 14 in the MTN8, 13 in the CAF Confederation Cup, 12 in the CAF Champions League and 6 times in the Carling Knockout. He also lifted eight trophies during his Pirates career, including four MTN8 titles, two Nedbank Cups, one Black Label Cup, and a 1st Division championship while out on loan in 2016/17.
Although not known primarily for his goal contributions, Maela still managed to chip in with 6 goals and 13 assists, a solid return for a player whose primary focus was defensive solidity. Five of those goals came while playing as a left-back and one as a centre-back. His goals often came at critical moments, including two match-winners and two first-half headers that helped settle Soweto derbies and high-pressure league clashes.
Defensively, Maela’s most regular position was at left-back, where he featured 105 times, followed by 69 appearances at centre-back, and brief stints at left midfield (2) and right-back (1). His positional flexibility made him a valuable asset to every coach he played under, including Milutin Sredojevic, Josef Zinnbauer and Jose Riveiro.
He played the most minutes under Milutin Sredojevic, clocking 6,235 minutes across 69 matches, followed by Riveiro (3,890 minutes in 65 games) and Zinnbauer (3,642 minutes in 44 appearances). With each coach, Maela maintained a regular role in the team, showing both tactical adaptability and physical resilience.
His most prolific stretch came in the 2023/24 season, where he helped the Buccaneers to a second-place league finish, a Nedbank Cup title, and yet another MTN8 trophy. Pirates also reached the CAF Confederation Cup final in 2021/22, with Maela playing a part in the run.
In matches where Maela scored, Pirates won four and drew one, never losing a game when he found the net. His game-winning goals against Stellenbosch FC and Kaizer Chiefs remain standout moments, not only for their importance but also for what they meant to the fans.
From a trophy standpoint, Maela walks away from professional football with a full cabinet, even if the elusive league title narrowly escaped him. Pirates finished PSL runners-up four times during his time in the squad, in 2017/18, 2018/19, 2022/23 and 2023/24, highlighting just how close the club came to reclaiming domestic dominance.
Maela’s contribution to Orlando Pirates was not built on noise or headlines, but on consistency, discipline and performance. Every stat reflects a player who gave everything for the badge, from crunching tackles to overlapping runs, from calm leadership at the back to big-game goals.
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From a boy with a dream to the Captain of the ☠ ship. @Decocr7Maela
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