A modern Pirates legend. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Happy Jele comments on Royal AM links
There has been talk that Royal AM could be interested in Happy Jele, but the former Pirates star has admitted he isn’t aware of this.
A modern Pirates legend. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Jele signed a one-year contract extension with Pirates at the end of the previous season, but that deal has now expired. The Pirates leader has enjoyed a remarkable career with the Buccaneers, which has spanned 16 years and included over 400 appearances since 2006.
A statement has revealed that Jele was asked to seriously consider a non-playing role after extensive meetings, but the former captain subsequently insisted that he wanted to continue playing “beyond the 2021/2022 season”.
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However, Pirates ultimately decided that they couldn’t agree to a continued role in the playing squad, and have now bid farewell to Jele.
According to a recent report by KickOff.com, Royal AM could possibly be interested in securing his services, and were planning to meet with him soon to finalise the deal soon.
However, Royal AM held a press conference on Friday to make a number of announcements, including unveiling Philani Cele, Shane Roberts and Lesvin Stoffels as new signings.
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There was no word on Jele or that of Luvuyo Memela despite reports linking the duo to Royal AM, although former TS Galaxy striker Wayde Lekay is expected to be offered a contract as he’s spent the last few days training with the club.
In an interview with SABC Sport, Jele has said he hopes to find a new club soon, but for now he is just enjoying spending time with family.
“For now I can’t say anything because there’s nothing, but anything that comes that’s good for me, I will appreciate and take it and go and play,” Jele told SABC Sport.
“Unless you know, because you’re in that space [media]. As for me, I don’t know anything because I’ve never seen anyone or had someone call me, saying, ‘We want to offer you this,’ or ‘Can we have your signature?’
“[There is] nothing, I’ve been taking my kids to school and coming back, and I’m enjoying my family time for now. But I’m hoping that one day everything is going to go well for me.”
Popular social media publication, Unplayable, has also recently suggested Royal AM are indeed interested in Jele, who could have a few interesting options to consider.
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Pirates release the following statement in relation to Jele:
After 16 amazing years with us, we bid farewell to our future Hall of Famer.
Our central defender and Club Captain, who has reached the end of his contract, will be leaving the club. This marks the end of Happy Jele’s momentous career with us.
Orlando Pirates Football Club can confirm that Happy Jele met with the Chairman of the Club at the end of the 2021/22 season to discuss his future. During these deliberations, which spanned a three-week period, the Club discussed various job options available to the long-term serving defender in a non-playing capacity.
Subsequent to this meeting, the 35-year-old was afforded time to go home and think about it.
Ordinarily, players are released at the end of the players’ contract but in Happy’s case, as he has a special place in the Club, having served the Club so professionally over the past 16 years, the Chairman had specifically asked the player for his input.
A follow-up meeting was held two weeks later where Happy expressed his intensions to continue playing football beyond the 2021/2022 season, an option that unfortunately is not available.
Everyone at Orlando Pirates Football Club would like to express the enormous gratitude to Happy Jele and wish him the very best of luck for the future.
Happy arrived from the amateur club Walter Stars in 2006 as a lanky and unassuming 19 year old. Today, he leaves a place he has called home for the past 16 years as a legend, captain, husband and father.
In those 16 years, he won 8 trophies, made over 400 appearances and scored 18 goals.
Happy is a special character who has answered every call the Club has made of him throughout the years which is why he has a future at the Club beyond his playing days. Everyone at Orlando Pirates Football Club would like to express the enormous gratitude to Happy Jele and wish him the very best of luck for the future.
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Jele has won two league titles, two Nedbank Cups, a Telkom Knockout competition and been part of three MTN8 title successes, and now it remains what will come next for the former Pirates stalwart who clearly wants to continue his playing career for now.
