Jele denies talk of bad vibes in Bucs

ORLANDO Pirates’ veteran defender Happy Jele denied speculation of a rift in the squad with an emphatic statement of unity despite the club losing again on Wednesday night.

Jele said reports about infighting between the players were false.

“There is nothing like that going on‚” he asserted after Pirates slipped to yet another Absa Premiership defeat‚ beaten 2-1 by Bidvest Wits at home at Orlando Stadium.

“We are united and we have been working harder each and every day. We don’t know about any division because we are united as a team.”

Jele said club chairman Irvin Khoza had told the squad on the eve of the game to keep their heads up after last weekend’s record-breaking 6-0 drubbing by Mamelodi Sundowns‚ which precipitated a crowd invasion and ugly riotous scenes at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

“Every big club has moments of transition and loses games is what he told us‚” Jele said.

Pirates have not won in their last eight games and slipped down to 10th place in the Premier Soccer League standings.

But Jele did score their first goal of the year when he pulled one back for Bucs in the second half on Wednesday.

Pirates will have a new coach on Monday and Jele said players were looking for a new beginning.

“When the new coach comes we need to support him. But at Pirates there is always competition for places whether we have a new coach or not‚” the player said.

Meanwhile, Wits coach Gavin Hunt hopes his side have turned a corner after a pre-Christmas slump and are back on championship track after beating Orlando Pirates.

The 2-1 Absa Premiership triumph at a wet Orlando Stadium took Wits back to the top of the table‚ on goal difference over Cape Town City‚ even though it was only their third win in their last eight league games.

“We had a bad five games before Christmas and I think it was because we were a little unlucky. We conceded late goals and were a little unfortunate in some of the games‚” said Hunt.

“It was just bad … one of those things. We weren’t playing badly‚ but just conceding really poor goals.

“If you look at the league this season you can’t afford to do that. But we have now brought ourselves back into the pack but we could have been a good six or seven points clear. Now we got to keep going and see where we end up.”

But Hunt said it was difficult to judge as the league standings were “false”.

“At this stage we have a false league. We are two or three games behind. Sundowns are four games behind‚ so the league is false‚” he said.

“You’ll only be able to get a real bearing of where everyone is once we have all played the same number of games. At the moment Sundowns are top of the league if you do it pro rata. It makes it very awkward but well just keep on playing and worry only about what is in front of us.

“It was a well deserved three points. We came for the three points and we got them‚ even though it wasn’t easy. They [Pirates] are going through a tough time‚ we know that.

“The three points keeps us where we want to be‚ going forward but lots of improvement is still needed from out side. I thought we gave the ball away cheaply.”

Hunt said there was added pleasure with Wednesday’s win after a taxing trip at the weekend to the Indian Ocean island of Reunion‚ where Wits lost 2-1 to St Louisienne in the first leg of their African Champions League first round tie.

“It was hot‚ even though we played at night‚ and the pitch was heavy. It was also a frustrating result but we didn’t play badly. We gave away a penalty deep in stoppage time‚” he said. — TMG