Menzi Magubane
Former Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele admitted to rejecting the club’s chairman Irvin Khoza’s offer to remain at the club.
The 35-year-old left the Bucs on Monday after 16 years and playing more than 400 matches.
He said the reason for leaving Pirates is that Khoza offered him a non-playing position at the club.
“I was humbled but at the same time shocked as I personally wasn’t ready to take off the badge as yet,” Jele said in his statement.
“Yes, I was offered an opportunity as a non-playing staff member and I expressed my desire to play for another season or two before I hung up my boots.”
He informed Pirates supporters that he won’t be lost to the black and white family.
The defender said he will take a year or two break away from the club to possibly pursue his playing career before he calls it quits or even making his way back to the Ghost.
“The opportunity afforded to me by Dr Khoza will be highly considered during my time away from the Bucs, the only club I played for in my professional career. No one can predict the future but hopefully I will be back at the club one day in a different capacity.” Already Jele has been linked to another club.
Ambitious Royal AM is said to be the one that is looking to add Jele in their squad for the upcoming DStv Premiership season.
Jele’s experience will come in handy for Royal AM should they manage to sign him as they will be making their debut in the CAF Confederation Cup campaign next season.
He has played several matches in this competition with the Bucs having played twice in finals that they lost in 2015 and 2022.
Image source: @iDiskiTimes
