Orlando Pirates defender Innocent Maela believes that the team will return with more confidence after the festive break.

The Sea Robbers ended the year with a 3-1 victory over Black Leopards a result which lifted them to fifth on the table after a tops turvy first half of the campaign.

Speaking after the encounter the defender admitted that it was important to finish the year on a high.

‘It was very important for us to win the match and go into the holidays having pleased our fans,’ Maela told the media.

‘We also had to go into the holidays happy as a team and make sure that when we come back we have a few things that we need to work on.

‘We had to improve our position on the league standings, so, that we come back stronger and with confidence.

The match was also new head coach Josef Zinnbauer first game in charge and Maela revealed that the German tactician has challenged all of the Pirates players.

‘Working under the new coach has been challenging. We have been working off the ball and also on the ball,’ Maela said.

‘It is something that we are looking forward to and we keep on learning and we keep on improving. So far so good. We are happy.’