Orlando Pirates left back Innocent Maela believes the Buccaneers have laid a solid base to come back strong next season.

The Buccaneers missed out on the chance to claim the Absa Premiership title this campaign as they will finish the league in second place while already booking their place in next years Caf Champions League competition.

Maela warns Mamelodi Sundowns that Pirates will come back even stronger next season in the snatching the PSL title from the current champions.

‘We have the potential to take over because we laid a solid base to come back stronger next season. We caught even ourselves by surprise, that we were challenging for the league title,’ Maela told SowetanLive.

‘We’re still humble enough to recognise Sundowns’ achievements but we still possess the arrogance that we can do better in future.

‘I am so happy with the progress but winning takes a team effort. We beat Sundowns 3-1 [in January] and this goes to show that it’s just a small gap [between us].’

The 25-year-old has featured regularly for Pirates under coach Milutin Sredojevic and has assisted four goals from 26 appearances in all competitions so far this season.

‘Personally, I have ticked the box of playing regularly and I was hoping to lift trophies this season but it was not to be. I am still proud because we were a fairly new team yet we still came so close to winning the league,’ he added.

‘Coach Micho and Rulani [Mokwena, the assistant] always reminded us to play the way we train and that’s what really helped our game.’

Orlando Pirates will take on Free State Stars in their final Absa Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium on 12 May, with kick-off set for 15:00.