Orlando Pirates' players have defended the unique nature in which Innocent Maela leads the Buccaneers amid criticism over his leadership style.
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While Maela is not one to stand up and bark out instructions to his teammates; he would assess the situation and give his opinion only when necessary, usually one that is backed up by thorough inspection and thought, and usually one that would have a long-lasting effect.
This approach has been backed up by Maela's teammates, who have defended his leadership style amid criticism from a faction of the club's fans.
"You'll be too quick to judge him because of his silence," Miguel Timm tells Pirates TV.
"When he speaks, he speaks a lot of sense. I think he reads a lot, so when he speaks, it's a moment where everybody stops what they're doing and listens because every time he has spoken, everything made sense - in the right context and in the right moment," he says.
His sentiments are echoed by Thabiso Sesane, who says Maela's impact is felt more inside the team than it is outside.
"He is a quite person and we understand his personality. So, no matter what the other people say, what is really required from a captain? Do you need to take charge in the change room and sit everyone down while you're the only one talking? It shouldn't be like that, where you physically confront people for social media to recognise you as a 'real' captain.
"No, Innocent is not that kind of person. Being a captain doesn't mean you have to be a bully. He is our captain, a good captain and he treats us well. We respect him and he also respects us," Sesane explained.
For Maela, he pays no attention to the criticism that comes with his unorthodox style. He maintains his commitment to leading the club - in his own manner.
"I've been questioned a lot about my game time and whether I am leading when I'm not playing. A lot has been said about me doing interviews and press conferences - but they don't understand who I am. I need to clarify that I've always seen myself as a leader of the team and of the group since I started playing. The only thing is that my teammates voted for me to wear the armband. But how I lead myself and the group has always been the same.
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"My influence, my voice, I'm not a leader that speaks too much or shouts too much. I use reason and logic most of the time and I try to control my emotions because that's how I am and my teammates voted for me to lead them in that manner," he added.
