Returned Royal AM coach John Maduka has opened up on his side capturing former Orlando Pirates defender Happy Jele.
Jele was officially confirmed by the club on Friday morning, a day after Maduka’s return to the club was confirmed.
The 36-year-old Jele had been without a club since leaving Orlando Pirates at the end of last season, where, despite having offered him a non-playing role, Jele seemed to have rejected the offer as he felt he can still play one or two seasons.
Jele was, in fact, supposed to have joined Royal AM at the beginning of the season after his departure from Pirates, with the club boss Shauwn Mkhize saying they are working on bringing him on board, but the move did not materialise then.
But iDiski Times was told that Jele was going to come to the club anyway as the KwaZulu-Natal side kept the number 4 on the side, the number Jele used to wear throughout his career at Pirates.
Maduka said Jele’s experience will be key since the club has shipped in 26 goals, and it is the defence that has also been not consistent under coach Abram Nteo this season.
“One thing about Royal AM, we don’t deny people opportunities,” said Maduka to the iDiski Times.
“Happy is one of the leaders as he did well in football. He is here with us and let’s see and football wise you all know what Happy can do, he is not new in the game.
“He is an experienced player, he is a leader, so it was good to see him being part of the club on Thursday when I had my first training.”
Jele is undisputed Pirates legend now as he set a new club record for the most starts (376) to surpass Williams Okpara’s long standing mark of 375, in the goalless draw against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (now Marumo Gallants) at Orlando Stadium in the last match of the 2020/21 season as Pirates secured third place and a return to the CAF Confederation Cup the next season.
Jele, in joining Royal AM, will have good memories too of playing at Chatsworth Stadium, the home venue of the KZN club.
It is where Jele made his PSL debut on 20 September 2006 for Pirates against Maritzburg United when he was 19 years, eight months and 19 days old under coach Milutin Sredojevic.
Royal AM, meanwhile, have struggled to replicate last season’s showing under Maduka either, lying 12th in the DStv Premiership table with 21 points after 18 matches.
