Khune, Mhlongo & Co Bid Maela Farewell At Dinner Party

Innocent Maela has retired from professional football. Photo: Gallo Images

Footballers don’t always make retirement a big deal. Some just leave the game without making a formal announcement, while others show up in different roles to basically confirm that they are no longer professional footballers. 

Innocent Maela, thanks to his wife and former teammate Zakhele Lepasa, had a retirement dinner party at Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Monday evening. The event was organised to celebrate the 33-year-old’s career, after hanging up his boots. Maela finished his career with Soweto giants Orlando Pirates, playing a significant role for the club both on and off the pitch.

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It was not a big event, but what mattered most for Maela is that his family and friends were there to give him words of encouragement ahead of what’s going to be a totally different life to playing football. Life after football is not always easy, but the people who attended the event, some of whom have retired, assured him that everything will work out in the next chapter of his life.

The likes of Itumeleng Khune, Brighton Mhlongo, Miguel Timm, Linda Mntambo, Kabelo Dlamini and Edward Motale were at the dinner, giving their words of encouragement and wisdom to the former Bafana Bafana defender. 

Speakers spoke about Maela’s discipline, dedication and leadership qualities which saw him captaining Pirates during one of their most successful periods. 

Brighton Mhlongo – former Pirates goalkeeper

“What a true gentleman. I think his humility supersedes him. Whenever you see him, you see a man who knows and understands values and principles and he sticks to them. I have learnt a lot from him, even though he is younger than me. He came to the (Pirates) development when I had just got promoted, but we kept on hearing a lot about him from the coaches who coached me as well. I think his personality helped him have a good career. A lot of people didn’t even know that he is Tsepo Masilela’s brother. Sometimes, you want to get into this space by saying ‘do you know me?’ or ‘do you know my brother?’, but he never did that. He knuckled down and stayed levelheaded, and he kept on working. I believe football rewarded him because he did well for the national team, and he is one of the most successful captains for Pirates. I think there is a lot in store for him after football, and I believe he has a lot to offer because he is a knowledgeable man. I am excited to see what’s next for him. I was honoured to be one of the speakers at his farewell function.”

Vincent Pule – ex-Pirates teammate

“When I first got to Pirates, he and Mthokozisi Dube were the first guys to welcome me. I think his discipline and dedication are something else. From the first day I got to Pirates, he was the same person, until I left Pirates. When he does something, he gives his all, and that’s what I can take from him. I have learnt a lot from him because I spent a lot of time with him. He is a funny guy, and he is a loving person. Overall, I can say he is a good human being. He is one person who always has conversations about money and books. We have been talking a lot to say we should plan for life after football, and we have been doing that.” 

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Itumeleng Khune – ex-Bafana Bafana teammate

“I want to share a story of Inno and I’s first encounter at Bafana Bafana. I remember the first time he came and sat next to me in the bus. You asked me a simple question and said ‘I know you are in the property business. How do I get my first property’. I don’t know how far you are with properties, but I know that you asked from the bottom of your heart that you want to be an entrepreneur and I told you it’s best that you start while you are still playing. All the best in your future endeavours.”

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