Innocent Maela Biography, Age, Career, Clubs, Fashion, Net Worth, Orlando Pirates

Innocent Maela Biography, Age, Career, Clubs, Fashion, Net Worth, Orlando Pirates

Innocent Maela is a South African footballer currently playing left-back for the Orlando Pirates. Yearning for a big stage since childhood, his dream finally comes true. As he continues to be a fan favourite, let’s find out more about the footballer.

Innocent Maela Biography

Profile summary

Name: Innocent Maela

Nickname: Deco

Birthday: 14 August 1992

Birth Place: Mpumalanga, South Africa

The footballer’s knack for football starts at a tender age, and his brother Mahlangu attests to that. “He’d grab his ball when he was sent to the shops. Mom would question how much longer it would take him to get to the shops juggling a soccer ball. He wouldn’t do it any other way, and he loved his football from a young age,” Mahlangu says.

After eight years of playing amateur football, he caught the eye of the Pirates youth coach at the time, in 2009. The subsequent year sees Innocent joining the Buccaneers’ development side before turning 18. He starts as a striker, to which he is shifted to the left attacking winger. Playing for a short time on the position, he moves to his left-back. “I can tell you now, and no left back starts off wanting to play left-back. A lot of us start somewhere else and then switch later,” says Maela.

Which clubs have Innocent Maela played for?

1. Witbank Spurs (2012-2014)
2. T. Royal Zulu (2014-2017)
3. Richards Bay (2017)
4. Orlando Pirates ( 2017-Present)