Orlando Pirates veteran Jele downplays Absa Premiership aspirations

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Sunday Feb 18, 2018. 10:00

Orlando Pirates defender Happy Jele has downplayed their chances of lifting the Absa premiership trophy.

The experienced defender reckons they are just trying to improve their last season’s run as they finished outside of the top eight for the first time in their Premier Soccer League history.

Pirates are five points behind log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, but the defender says there are many games to play and they can’t predict the future.

“I won’t say we are title contenders,” Jele said to IOL.

“We finished 11th last season. We are trying to improve from that. That’s all I can say.

“You can’t predict the future. There are a lot of games to come and the league positions have constantly been changing.”

On the other hand, Jele also touched on their Nedbank Cup Last 16 draw against Benni McCarthy’s Cape Town City.

“Yes, he was playing for Pirates and he was my colleague, but this is a different ball game,” adds the skipper.

“He is coaching now and I am still playing. We want to go there and compete to go to the next round. At least we know them well. We have seen them play, unlike teams from the ABC Motsepe League.”