Orlando Pirates defender Happy Jele says he wants to repay the club by helping the Buccaneers win more silverware.
The 31-year-old is currently the Buccaneers longest serving player and has spend 12 years at the clubs, making over 250 appearances while scoring 11 goals and assisted a further five in that time.
He has six trophies to his name which includes two Absa Premiership titles, two MTN8 trophies, two Nedbank Cups and one Telkom Knockout Cup.
The veteran defender was also recently awarded the Chairman’s Award by club boss Irvin Khoza at the Pirates Players’ Awards gala held in Johannesburg last week.
ALSO READ: Mulenga: I think we can be champions
Jele says he has no intention to retire, insisting there are many factors in his life that keep him motivating to continue playing football.
‘There are a lot of things that still keep me motivated to go and play football,’ Jele told the Sowetan. ‘But first of all I have to thank God for keeping me at this great football club.
‘I now view the lessons that I get every day at training, in the changing room and during matches in a different light than I did when I was a kid.
‘I would say that maybe in the past years I didn’t see football the way I do now. I’m seeing it in a different way and I think that’s the thing that keeps me going.’
ALSO READ: Pirates suffer double injury blow
The Pirates defender says he is determined to repay the club for his long tenure at the Mayfair by help the club win more silverware.
‘There are a lot of highs but winning the treble, qualifying for the Caf Champions League final in 2013 and the Caf Confederation Cup final in 2015, are the main for me.
‘I want to play football and win many things and repay the team for keeping for me so long,’ he concluded.
Orlando Pirates will play hosts to Highlands Park at the Orlando Stadium in their opening 2018-19 Absa Premiership fixture scheduled for 4 August.
