JOHANNESBURG – Happy Jele is set to stay with Orlando Pirates despite his lack of game time at the club.
Jele has only played 450 minutes this season which is equivalent to five Absa Premiership matches. Orlando Pirates' new mentor Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic has struggled to pick a regular back-four.
He has utilised different partnership. Jele has partnered Justice Chabalala and Gladwin Shitolo at the back this season. His agent Jazzman Mahlakgane had indicated that Jele is unlikely to leave Pirates.
“Jele is one of the longest serving players having played for Pirates for over 10 years. Pirates have an option on his contract and if they were not going to exercise that option they would have told us by now. They respect the player and I don’t think they will wait for the last minute and say they are not exercising the option. So I think he will stay at Pirates,” Mahlakgane stated.
Jele has been with Pirates since 2006 and has won all the domestic trophies with them. The utility defender was part of the Pirates team that won the double treble a couple of seasons ago.
Pirates have improved defensively this season. They have kept clean-sheets, which is a great improvement. Last season they conceded 40 goals in 30 league matches.
This term, after 16 league matches, they have conceded 12 goals. Kaizer Chiefs and Maritzburg United have conceded the least goals this season - nine apiece.
They are followed by SuperSport United and Chippa United with 10 goals. Pirates are third in terms goals conceded this season.
Meanwhile Dove Wome has confirmed that he has parted ways with SuperSport United. In other Premier Soccer League transfer news, Polokwane City have secured the services of Real Kings left winger Mondli Miya on a pre-contract. This was confirmed by the club’s communication manager Vusi Mtimane.
“We signed the pre-contract with this boy, but we want to have him in this transfer window. We are still waiting for Kings to get back to us. They must tell us how much they want so that we can have the boy,” Mtimane explained.