Orlando Pirates skipper Innocent Maela has responded to questions about his future, hinting at a major decision with the season drawing to a close.
Maela, now 32, has endured a frustrating season having made just 11 appearances, with only three of those being from the starting line-up.
The cause of this is partly due to injuries as well as tough competition for places, with Deon Hotto and Paseka Mako been the preferred options at left-back.
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The former Thanda Royal Zulu man was a key part of the squad that delivered the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup titles in Jose Riveiro's first season. He was also in the Bafana Bafana reckoning when Hugo Broos' men secured qualification to the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
Recent reports have indicated that the Soweto giants have approached the defender with an offer for an off-field role, with his time as a player at the club looking irreversibly gone.
Speaking to media ahead of Saturday's Soweto Derby against rivals Kaizer Chiefs, Maela spoke candidly about his situation.
"I think in life, just like anything else, you have to allow succession to happen because we all know you can't play the game forever," noted the softly-spoken star.
"So, if you have an opportunity and God has placed you in a position where you can influence the next generation, then you have to take it with both hands.
"But also, I think you need to have the grace within yourself to accept it because it's easy and nice to have grace when things are happening for you, but it's very difficult to express the same grace when things are not happening.
"So, I think, for me personally, I truly believe I've had that grace within myself, and I thank God and the people that groomed me, when I was young, to be in this position right now.
"I think it's a privilege – more than anything else – to influence the people that are coming after me because, like I'm saying, you can't play the game forever, and I think I've done extremely well for myself, for the club," he added.
Maela also stated the club will issue a statement when the time is right, hinting there could be truth to the speculation.
"The season is not done yet, but when the time is right, the club will give out a statement, I will give out a statement, and we will take it from there.
"But, I mean, it's been a privilege and an honour for me to be in this position to influence the people that are coming after me, and after us.
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"When the season is done and all the discussions are finalised, I will put something out. I think right now, at this moment, it would be extremely inappropriate for me to say something.
"The season is not done yet, we need to respect the games that are coming," says the skipper.
With Bucs missing three key defenders for the derby, it may present Riveiro the perfect opportunity to hand Maela what could be his last Soweto Derby as a player, though the two teams will meet in the Nedbank Cup final seven days later.
