Innocent Maela has named the SuperSport United star he is yearning to subdue when Orlando Pirates meets Matsatsantsa over the weekend.
The Pirates skipper, Maela, revealed his emotional state ahead of the DStv Premiership tie, insisting that he can’t wait to get stuck in for the club against SuperSport.
The Soweto giants host the Tshwane side at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, 18 March [5:45], with plenty at stake.
MAELA EAGER TO MEET SUPERSPORT STAR
With Mamelodi Sundowns only needing four points to clinch a sixth consecutive Premiership title, it is safe to presume that the race is over.
SuperSport is in second place, 20 points adrift of Sundowns, while Pirates are third, 25 points behind the former African champions, with eight games left to be played.
At stake for Pirates and SuperSport is a CAF Champions League spot, a preserve of the runners-up of the DStv Premiership.
A win could see Pirates close the gap on SuperSport to two points.
However, Maela is aware that it will be a challenging task against a youthful Matsatsantsa side that has punched above its weight this season.
Maela will be tasked with stopping his Buccaneers’ teammate Zakhele Lepasa from scoring. Lepasa joined SuperSport on loan from Pirates until the end of the season.
He requested the move as he stated that he didn’t enjoy being in and out of the team.
ZAKHELE LEPASA IN FORM
Lepasa has seemingly found his goal-scoring boots as he registered his first brace in the Premiership in SuperSport’s last league game against Golden Arrows.
“Firstly, you don’t know whom they [SuperSport] are going to play. We will see on match day before kickoff,” said Maela.
“But I mean to answer your question, yeah, we played with Zakes. We know him very well, but it will not make such a big difference now. “He’s playing with new teammates, and he has a new pattern of playing, a new style of play. So, ours is to prepare for them collectively; prepare for them so that we make sure that we utilise our strengths. And make sure that we stop their strengths against us.
“We are looking forward to seeing him [Lepasa]. He is one of our own, but yeah, I mean, the focus right now is preparing the team to ensure we have the three points,” added Lepasa.
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