Orlando Pirates captain and defender Innocent Maela has opened up on why he very nearly hung up his boots following a disappointing spell on loan.
The Buccaneers wrapped up a successful campaign that included two domestic titles with the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup while placing as runners-up to champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership.
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For Maela, who had his first season as captain after the departure of Happy Jele at the start of the season, the triumphant campaign is a far cry from his days of fighting relegation with Thanda Royal Zulu in the National First Division (NFD).
"The season before we won the league in the NFD, we survived relegation on the last day and I remember having a conversation with my father and he was like 'if you guys get relegated from the NFD then you have to come home and go to school,'" Maela told journalists.
"But luckily we survived and the following season we won the league and that is how I rejoined Orlando Pirates
"So I have thought of quitting the game because I was stuck in the same division for so long but thank you to God and his grace not allowing me to give up on my self
Pirates currently have over five players out on loan, including Boitumelo Radiopane, Azola Matrose and Zakhele Lepasa among others, all desperate to make their mark.
"This path of going out on loan, it won't work for everyone. our stories and our journeys are not the same but for me personally it helped me a lot because it made me the man I am today," added Maela.
"I developed a stg n character and there are certain connections that I made out on loan that are helping me right now in the first team and I will be forever grateful t the chairman for his vision that he laid upon me and here I am today."
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