At the conclusion of the previous season, Jele agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Pirates, but that arrangement is now over. The Pirates’ captain has had a phenomenal 16-year run with the Buccaneers, appearing in more than 400 games since 2006.
Jele was reportedly invited to consider a non-playing role following lengthy conversations, according to a statement, but the former captain afterwards insisted that he wanted to play “beyond the 2021/2022 season.”
Jele has now said goodbye after Pirates ultimately came to the conclusion that they couldn’t accept a continuous participation in the playing team.
A recent rumour by KickOff.com said that Royal AM might be interested in hiring him and that they intended to speak with him soon to close the deal.
But on Friday, Royal AM held a press conference to announce several things, including the signings of Philani Cele, Shane Roberts, and Lesvin Stoffels.
Despite rumours tying Jele and Luvuyo Memela to Royal AM, there has been no word on either player. However, Wayde Lekay, a former TS Galaxy striker, is anticipated to receive a contract after spending the past few days practising with the team.
In an interview with SABC Sport, Jele stated that while he is now just enjoying his time with family, he hopes to find a new club soon.
“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.”
Unplayable, a well-known social media publication, has made the claim that Royal AM is indeed interested in Jele, who may have a few intriguing possibilities to take into account.
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.
Jele has won two league championships, two Nedbank Cups, a Telkom Knockout competition, and three MTN8 title victories. What comes next for the former Pirates mainstay, who obviously wants to continue playing for the time being, is still unclear.