Unhappy Jele leaves Pirates after 16 years at the Soweto giants
Soweto giants Orlando Pirates have parted ways with club captain and central defender Happy Jele.
According to the Buccaneers, a decision was made not to renew Jele’s contract even though he wanted to continue playing.
The 35-year-old was afforded an opportunity to be part of the club’s administration, Pirates said in a statement on Monday.
"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.
"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 intentions to continue playing football beyond the 2021/2022 season, an option that unfortunately is not available."
Jele joined the club in 2006 as a 19-year-old from amateur football.
The former Bafana Bafana defender made more than 400 appearances for the club in the course of his 16 years at the club.
He won eight trophies with Pirates.
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