Jele’s emotional Pirates farewell letter

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In a heartfelt farewell letter, Happy Jele reveals he decided to leave Orlando Pirates because he wanted to continue playing instead of taking up a coaching role at the club.

The defender’s 16-year stay at the Soweto giants ended on Monday when the club announced the 35-year-old would leave after lengthy discussions with chairman Dr Irvin Khoza.

Jele’s contract expired at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, and Pirates presented several job options available to him in a non-playing role but the defender says he still has life in his legs.

On Monday evening, the long-serving defender shared his farewell message on Instagram.

“Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chairman of Orlando Pirates FC, Dr Irvin Khoza, for bringing me to this massive team when I was just a teenager starting out in my football career 16 years ago.

“I am proud to have represented the Ghost with dedication, loyalty, and humility, and I hope I didn’t disappoint. To Bucs staff, all the different technical staff I have worked under for the past 16 years, Club management, supporters, and my management company Professionalz from which my career is managed, I would like to sincerely thank all of you for being part of my journey and guiding me in my football life.

“When the chairman invited me to his office to offer me a non-playing position, I was humbled but at the same time shocked as I personally wasn’t ready to take off the badge as yet. Yes, I was offered an opportunity in non-playing staff, and I gracefully expressed my desire to play for another season or two before I hung up my boots. I, therefore, wish to inform my fans and the ghost supporters that I won’t be lost in the black and white family but will take a year or two break away from the club to possibly pursue my interest of playing before I call it quits or even making my way back to the Ghost, but time will tell.

“The opportunity afforded to me by the club Chairman Dr Khoza will be highly considered during my time away from the club I only played for in my professional football career. No one can predict the future, but hopefully, I will be back to The Club one day in a different capacity.

“I wish Orlando Pirates FC, fans, supporters, management, and the members of the 2022/23 squad all the best in their future endeavours. Once and always a buccaneer.”

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Dean Workman