Orlando Pirates’ injury woes grow as Happy Jele limps off

Orlando Pirates have offered an update on Happy Jele’s injury after the club captain limped off during Thursday’s DStv Premiership draw against Royal AM.

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Jele was forced from the field in the 52nd minute and was substituted by Thulani Hlatshwayo in the 1-1 stalemate at the Orlando Stadium.

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According to the Kickoff website, Happy Jele is set to undergo further scans on Friday but the initial feeling from within the camp is that the veteran defender’s knee injury could see him sidelined for the foreseeable future. 

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“He will go for his scans tomorrow (Friday) but at the moment it looks like a knee problem,” co-coach Fadlu Davids confirmed following the match.

“We don’t know the extent of it. The doctors have checked him but now, of course, with the swelling, we are not really able to make a diagnosis at this very moment.

“Tomorrow we will have the scans and get more information, but it doesn’t look good.”

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Happy Jele is the latest in a growing list of casualties for Orlando Pirates this season, joining the likes of Thembinkosi Lorch, Innocent Maela, Zakhele Lepasa, Richard Ofori, Frank Mhango, Wayne Sandilands and Vincent Pule on the injury list.

Thursday’s draw was the Buccaneers’ fifth in their eight matches this season – to go along with two wins and a draw.

No team this season has had as many draws as the Soweto giants.

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Their most recent point saw Orlando Pirates stay seventh in the standings with 11 points, already a yawning eight points behind log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns who have played one fewer match.

The five draws are the most Orlando Pirates have recorded at a similar stage of any PSL season to date.

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