Innocent Maela - Knowing Namibian players can work to Bafana Bafana’s advantage

Bafana are set to play in a crucial Group E match against Namibia on Sunday at 10 pm, aiming for a must-win.

Bafana is well acquainted with the majority of the Brave Warriors players, who compete in the DStv Premiership.

Notable names like Peter Shalulile, Deon Hotto, and Lyodt Kazapua are active in the South African domestic league.

Maela is optimistic that this familiarity may prove advantageous for Bafana in the upcoming do-or-die encounter over the weekend.

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"I think for the fact that we are playing against players that we are more accustomed to, at this time we just have to focus on ourselves, as a nation, as a team, as Bafana Bafana and we go there, make sure that we do well and make the nation happy,” Maela said.

“As I said we support the boys, we are with them at this point in time. Irregardless of who we're playing against, right now we just need to go out there and make sure that we make ourselves proud," Maela said.

During the initial half of the Premiership season, the Buccaneers faced challenges, currently occupying the fifth position with 25 points from 16 matches. 

They trail the log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, by a margin of 10 points.

Despite the setbacks, things did not unfold as planned for Maela and his teammates. However, he assures fans of a more promising and improved performance in the upcoming second half of the season.

"Look when we go into a season you don't have the mentality that you'll go hard in the second part. No, we start strong, it's just that sometimes things don't happen the way you plan. For the second part of the season, same mentality, we go out there to try and to do our best to make sure that we win each and every game,” Maela added.

“We get to represent a lot of people, we respect the badge and we approach the first round or the second with the same mentality and the same humility. So, it's up to us players to make sure that we go out there, we do better, we win more matches and we make ourselves proud."