‘I don’t believe the league is gone’ – Orlando Pirates captain

Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela says the league is ‘far from over’ despite Sundowns needing just a win to wrap up it.

Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela feels his team still have a chance to win the Betway Premiership.This is even though Mamelodi Sundowns need just a win from their final three matches to claim the title. The Buccaneers are 12 points behind the Brazilians but have two games in hand.

For Pirates to win their first league title in 13 years, they need to win their remaining five matches and hope Masandawana lose three games.

Orlando Pirates captain said last week that the league was still there for the taking.

“I don’t believe the league is gone. I don’t think the guys [teammates] also believe that,” he said.

“I think as long as we have a chance to go out there, we never give up. It is an absolute setback for us not to get the three points last night [Wednesday], but it is what it is. Now, it’s for us to make sure that we improve going into the next one and come back strong. But it’s far from being over.”

Orlando Pirates captain not giving up on the league

Maela has only made a handful of appearances for the Buccaneers this season, having battled injuries in past seasons. Reports have suggested the 32-year-old captain is likely to call time on his playing days and take up a role within the Orlando Pirates structures at the end of the season.