Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela is officially off the market after marrying his long-term girlfriend Zenande Funani.
Daily Sun reported that the 32-year-old defender and his new wife exchanged vows on Human Rights Day, 21 March. Funani, who is a presenter for SuperSport, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news.
“I cannot believe that I’m about to marry my best friend! i love you and appreciate that man down. He is so excited. Oh Sthandwa sami (my love), God has been so good to us,” she said.
Orlando Pirates captain Maela ties the knot
Maela has been with the Buccaneers since 2017 and has played close to 200 matches for the Buccaneers. In Jose Riveiro, the left-back was a regular but has seen little game time over the years. This season, the Orlando Pirates captain has only featured in three league games and 11 across all competitions.
The future of Maela at Pirates remains uncertain given how little he has played this season. Given the club still has to compete for the league, Nedbank Cup and CAF Champions League, the club might need his experience down the round.
His lack of game-time has seen the Orlando Pirates also lose his place in the Bafana Bafana squad.
Should Riveiro play Maela more?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
