Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela is confident his side can still lift the Betway Premiership trophy at the end of the season.
Despite being 12 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, although with two games in hand, and having lost 1-0 to third-placed Sekhukhune United on Wednesday, Maela is adamant their campaign is not over.
While Bucs were losing their fifth game of the 2024/25 league campaign, Sundowns cruised to a 3-0 victory over Richards Bay.
The Soweto side will need to pick up maximum points from their remaining fixtures against Kaizer Chiefs, Golden Arrows, TS Galaxy and AmaZulu and hope the Brazilians drop points in clashes with Cape Town City, Chippa United twice, Stellenbosch and Magesi.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s sold-out Soweto derby, Maela said in the Citizen: “I don’t believe the league is gone and I don’t think the guys also believe that.
“As long as there is a chance, we will never give up. It was a setback for us to lose the three points last night against Sekhukhune United but it is for us to ensure that we improve going into the next match and come back strong. It is far from over.”
Maela added: “We encourage them [supporters] to be proud of the season we have had because we are still in the running to win the league and we are in the Nedbank Cup final.
“We are frustrated when we don’t win football matches and you can imagine how they [the supporters] must be feeling but I say it again that the season is far from over. We still have a lot to play for.”