Tsepo Masilela offers Innocent Maela brotherly advice

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Tsepo Masilela has given a piece of brotherly advice to the newly appointed Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela following the departure of Happy Jele.

The highly rated defender – currently without a club after parting ways with AmaZulu – made his full international debut before his Premier Soccer League debut. In the same vein, after only one season in South Africa’s top-flight football, he moved to the Israeli club Maccabi Haifa.

And Masilela has hailed his brother as a “very hard-working” and “a person with a good heart.”

Meanwhile, the Soweto giants describe Maela as a person who personifies the characteristics of a leader, a player who embodies the club’s core values, inspires those around him and leads in an exemplary manner – on and off the field.

“First and foremost, I’m happy for him. He doesn’t need to change anything. He must continue being himself and be there for the team at all costs,” Masilela told FARPost.  

“I’m sure there are some other guys there [vice-captain] to assist him. But the most important thing is remaining humble because you still have to work hard and convince the coach that you deserve to play. Being a captain doesn’t mean you will automatically make the starting eleven, even if you’re not working hard to make the starting line-up.

“I’m pretty sure he will do well. Remember, he was a captain at Thanda Royal Zulu, even though they were still playing in the lower division at that time. So, he had the taste and how it feels like to be a captain. Generally, he is hard-working and a good human being with a good heart.”

Maela started as a youngster in the Bucs Academy back in 2012, having spent most of his time on loans. He was first sent out to Witbank Spurs before a lengthy spell at Thanda Royal Zulu, whom he helped to gain promotion to the Premier Soccer League in 2017.

The following season he was recalled back to the Sea Robbers, and he became a key member of the club.

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