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Mahlakgane is optimistic the veteran center-back will have a chance to lift a trophy in Bucs
The secret to Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele’s longevity at the Soweto Giants has been revealed by his agent, Jazzman Mahlakgane.
The 33-year-old defender is the longest-serving player in the current Bucs squad and joined the Soweto giants in 2006 from the Walter Stars team of Mpumalanga.
Since then, Jele has remained a loyal servant on Houghton’s side and has enjoyed much success with the team over the years.
However, former international Bafana Bafana has yet to lift a major trophy since he was named the club’s captain in August 2017.
Thulani Hlatshwayo was the one to lift the MTN8 trophy after the Pirates beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 in the final earlier this month with Jele absent due to illness.
Mahlakgane says that Jele always puts the team first, hence her longevity in the four-time Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions.
“One of Jele’s secrets to staying with the Pirates for more than a decade is always putting the team first,” said Mahlakgane. The world.
“Yes, he would have liked to lift the MTN8 [trophy]but there was nothing he could do, he wasn’t there on game day. Coach [Josef Zinnbauer] revealed [that] I was sick.
“We don’t know how this season will end, maybe there is another trophy that the Pirates win and Jele has a chance.”
Hlatshwayo’s arrival in the Pirates before the start of the current season has seen Jele fight for playing time.
Zinnbauer has chosen Hlatshwayo and Ntsikelelo Nyauza as his preferred center-backs so far this season.
As a result, Jele has played four competitive matches, including two alternate appearances on MTN8 against Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town.
The lanky, who is one of the decorated Pirates players in the PSL era, signed a new one-year contract with the club at the start of the current season.
Jele has won eight major trophies with the Buccaneers, namely; two PSL titles, three MTN8 trophies, two Nedbank Cups and the Telkom Knockout.
He was a key member of the Pirates team that made history by winning three major trophies in a single consecutive season between 2010 and 2012.
