It took two years playing in the SAB league for Happy Jele to finally realise his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
At the 2015 SAB League National Championship launch in Newtown yesterday, Jele spoke fondly of his journey towards becoming a professional footballer.
“All I wanted was to play football and nothing else,” Jele said. “That burning desire drove me to work harder than my peers because I wanted to turn pro so bad.
“But the experience had its own challenges. We would travel long distances to matches. I remember one time we travelled from Mpumalanga to Middleburg. It was a four-hour trip and we still had to play a match when we arrived at the venue.
“It was a demanding experience but looking back now, I can safely say that those kind of things prepared me to deal with the demands that come with playing in CAF competitions for Pirates,” he added.
“It’s a perfect place to start if you want to become a professional footballer,” he said, referring to the SAB League National Championship which kicks off on Sunday in Soshanguve. “Playing at that level teaches you a lot about how to carry yourself as a professional footballer, the kind of food you are going to have to eat and how to conduct yourself on and off the pitch.
“I’ve played along side players such as Mandla Masango and Reneilwe Letsholonyane. They used to dribble past me back then as a defender. Hey, it comes with the job, but I knew what I wanted.
“Looking back now I enjoyed every moment.”
Meanwhile, Pirates will face AC Leopards over the weekend in a CAF Confederations Cup first leg tie in Dolisie, Congo.
”It’s going to be a tiring trip,” Jele said. “We know the kind of treatment we are going to get there but we are ready for them. We are going to fight hard to come away with a good result.” - The Star