Jele: We Need To Support Mpumalanga Teams

Happy Jele would like to see more Mpumalanga players in the top-flight. Photo: Gallo Images

Former Orlando Pirates defender and captain Happy Jele wishes to see more young players from the Mpumalanga province scouted by top clubs in the country.

The Middleburg-born legend was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Mpumalanga Premier Cup in Mbombela when he said the provincial government should have more tournaments like these to unleash hidden talents in the province.

“This initiative made by the Premier is a very good one,” said the renowned former defender, speaking to media.

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“You can see the top teams that are playing in the bigger leagues, they were competing today. It’s nice to give back to Mpumalanga or to the community as a whole. I didn’t see only the teams that are playing in the Betway Premiership. I also saw teams that are playing in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, and I also saw a lot of schools participating in this tournament. You know, netball, soccer as well.”

Jele, who played more than 400 games for Pirates said initiatives like the Mpumalanga Premier Cup help people from the province in being active again.

“You know, because we want to take young kids out of substances (abuse),” he shared. Jele further added that this initiative will help unearth more talent from Mpumalanga. 

Praise for the Premier

“Just to see what the Premier is doing, I’m very happy. I’m hoping that they can continue to do it more often, every year, so that we can see a lot of talent, young age as well and the young kids that are playing soccer. Just to believe in themselves and say, ‘I can be playing for TS Galaxy. I can be playing for Kruger United as well,’ because those are the only teams that are in the top league now in Mpumalanga.”

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“We need to support them, most of the time, with our players from Mpumalanga and that will be great. So, I think the Premier did a wonderful job to do this tournament, ” Jele concluded. 

Mpumalanga has two teams in the Betway Premiership in TS Galaxy and Kruger United, with Casric Stars and The Bees campaigning in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. 

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