Veteran defender Happy Jele has stated that if anyone wants to know why he is not at Royal AM anymore, people should ask the club.
Club president Shauwn ‘Ma’ Mkhize addressed the topic at the club’s 2023/24 season launch two weeks ago, saying in short that Jele is still part of the set-up even though the defender is not with the club now and neither was during the off season.
Jele has seemingly been left in the dark by Royal AM, having joined them in the January transfer window last season following his release at the end of the 2021/22 season at Orlando Pirates.
The 36-year-old was, according to this publication, keen to come back but the club blue-ticked him in messages when he asked whether to come back or not.
“You guys must ask them, I think they are the ones who will answer you,” Jele told iDiski Times.
Jele remained coy to answer when asked what was agreed during his last talks with the club, and whether the club showed any intention that they need him back.
“The best people to talk to is Royal AM because it is related to them,” Jele insisted.
“Those questions – please ask them and I think they will give you answers. For now I don’t want to say anything.”
Jele also didn’t want to answer when asked whether leaving him having hanging like this is a sign of disrespect by the club after he has achieved so much in football.
“No comments,” he replied.
The 36-year-old, who joined Royal AM on a short-term deal that was running until the 2022/23 campaign and it is not clear whether there was an option to renew it, depending on how many games the former Bucs skipper had to play.
Jele, who won two league titles, two Nedbank Cups, one Telkom Knockout, three MTN8s and runners-up in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup with Pirates, featured in four matches for Royal AM last season in all competitions – which was a win over Stellenbosch FC, a draw against Pirates, a loss to Moroka Swallows and loss to Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup first round.
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In the latter match Jele, when he looked good, he picked up an early injury and was taken off in the 23rd minute.
Jele left Pirates after 15 years of service after the club offered him a non-paying role at the beginning of last season, but he felt he still had more to give on the pitch.
It is not clear what is next for Jele, who represented Pirates in over 400 games in his career, more than any other player in the club’s rich PSL history.
