Orlando Pirates have announced that the club's most-capped player ever and long-time captain Happy Jele is leaving the Soweto giants after 16 years of service.
Pirates have been holding discussions with Jele over the past three weeks regarding his future and the decision has been made to part ways with the club legend.
Jele has expressed his intention not to retire just yet and no doubt there will be clubs battling it out for his signature.
The 35-year-old made 401 appearances for the Buccaneers since joining the club in 2006 as a 19-year-old. Pirates offered him a non-playing role but since he has decided not to hang up his boots, the two parties have agreed by mutual consent to split.
“After 16 amazing years with us, we bid farewell to our future Hall of Famer. Our central defender and club captain, who has reached the end of his contract, will be leaving the club. This marks the end of Happy Jele’s momentous career with us,” Pirates confirmed on the club’s official website.
“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,” reads the statement from Pirates.
Thank you captain my captain Happy Jele #OnceAlways #OrlandoPirates pic.twitter.com/1uLsmGCRTa
— Sphelele (@NsikayesizweZN) July 18, 2022
“Subsequent to this meeting, the 35-year-old was afforded time to go home and think about it. 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 intensions to continue playing football beyond the 2021/2022 season, an option that unfortunately is not available.
“Everyone at Orlando Pirates Football Club would like to express enormous gratitude to Happy Jele and wish him the very best of luck for the future. Happy arrived from the amateur club Walter Stars in 2006 as a lanky and unassuming 19-year-old. Today, he leaves a place he has called home for the past 16 years as a legend, captain, husband and father.
BIG NEWS!!
— Thomas Mlambo (@thomasmlambo) July 18, 2022
Happy Jele has parted ways with Orlando Pirates
Where to next for the skipper? Would you take him at your club? pic.twitter.com/sLz6naysNI
“In those 16 years, he won 8 trophies, made over 400 appearances and scored 18 goals. Happy is a special character who has answered every call the club has made of him throughout the years which is why he has a future at the club beyond his playing days.
“Everyone at Orlando Pirates Football Club would like to express the enormous gratitude to Happy Jele and wish him the very best of luck for the future.”
