Former Orlando Pirates captain Edelbert Dinha has weighed in on whether Innocent Maela should retain his captaincy despite limited playing time.
While Maela has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, he has seen reduced game time under Jose Riveiro.
Deon Hotto is preferred at left-back, while Olisa Ndah and Thabiso Sesane have solidified their center-back positions.
Ndah wears the armband in Maela's absence, while the vice-captain Tapelo Xoki has also fallen down the pecking order.
Dinha believes Maela possesses the necessary qualities to lead the team and can do so even from the bench.
He asserts that being a captain doesn't require constant starts.
EDELBERT DINHA ON MAELA’S QUALITIES THAT MAKE HIM A GOOD CAPTAIN
“A captain is just an armband, it doesn't make you the highest-paid player at the club, and it doesn't mean you are the best player,” Dinha tells KickOff.
“There are qualities that they look for in a captain, like a player who is good at motivating and encouraging players, he is always smiling and always there for the players.
“He doesn't have to be the best player, whether you put him on the bench, he is always there for the players. He's got a very positive attitude.
“And when the players see that from their captain it makes them want to play or want to fight, want to win games.
“In my opinion, it doesn't matter whether he plays or doesn't play; the quality that he possesses is good enough for the team to do well.
“So, in Maela's case, you can find that his other teammates don't have those questions. You get different captains from different clubs chosen by the coaches.
“Why is he sitting on the bench at Pirates? The only person that can answer that question truthfully is the coach. He might not be doing well or carrying a niggling injury, we can only suspect.
“It depends on the club if they should look for another captain who will always be on the pitch, but I'm sure he's got the deputies who are always starting matches.
“It's up to the club if they will want to have a new captain, or they will continue with Innocent Maela.”
