Maela Backs Pirates To Clinch Carling Knockout Title
Former Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela says that the players are approaching the Carling Knockout Cup final with the belief that they will win it.
Pirates will play Marumo Gallants in the Carling Knockout final at Peter Mokaba Stadium on 6 December.
Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side has already won one trophy title, the MTN8, and will now look to secure their second one.
They have already been knocked out of the CAF Champions League and occupy second spot in the Betway Premiership League, three points behind the log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns.
The former Pirates captain believes that the players know how to approach these games and will be happy after the game.
“We are going there in numbers and the belief and mindset that we have, you know, when we play finals, it has been like that for a few years. We go there with the belief that we are going to win the trophy,” said Maela, who retired at the end of last season.
“I’m sure the gents know, this squad they’ve been winning trophies nonstop. They know how to approach these matches; they know where they need to place their mindset for them to go in and perform to that level. So obviously we believe that we’ll be happy after the game, same as in Mbombela [in the MTN8].”
The 33-year-old further expressed his satisfaction with Pirates players dominating the national team squad, highlighting that if Amabhakaniya performs well, the country benefits.
“Nine players in Bafana, again credit to the club, credit to the coach, the technical team. But also credit to the gents as well, because you have to work really hard, day in and day out to be selected,” Maela, who was part of the Bafana Bafana side that reached the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16.
“But I’m so happy that we have so many players in the national team. I remember when I first arrived in the national team, there were not a lot of players from Pirates selected, but now I’m happy and they deserve it. We deserve it, the team is doing really, really well, and it shows when Orlando Pirates is doing well, the country benefits, no doubts.”
