Jele talks set for end of season

Contract talks between Happy Jele and Orlando Pirates are yet to commence as the captain approaches the expiry of his existing deal with the Soweto giants.

The defender’s contract with the Buccaneers is expected to expire on June 30 after the club extended his spell in August last year, this after his previous deal came to an end in 2018. The Soweto giants confirmed at the time that the 32-year-old had extended his stay.

As a veteran in the team, he has proven in his importance to coach Milutin Sredojevic’s team. Playing week in and week out, Jele has started in 20 of the 21 league games played to date this season.

The latest news reaching the Siya crew is that Pirates are keen on extending his spell by a further year, with a Siya source explaining that Pirates will make a decision in their own time.

“Look, there is no rush into looking into Happy Jele’s contract situation. That’s how Pirates prefer to do things. They prefer to take their time. But they like the player and are happy with him. The player is happy at the club and that’s how things are,” said the source.

Contacted for comment, Jele’s agent, Jazzman Mahlakgane, confirmed that talks about a new contract are likely to be initiated towards the end of the season. “Pirates is happy with Happy Jele, so there are no issues there. It’s (contract talks) something that will be looked at towards the end of the season,” said Mahlakgane.