ORLANDO Pirates and former Bafana Bafana right back Happy Jele is ready to put up a big fight to reclaim his position in the starting line-up.
The lanky Jele has fully recovered from a career-threatening knee injury and is expected back in action in three weeks' time.
Jele damaged knee ligaments (anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments), and tore the meniscus in his knee in a game against BidVest Wits in Mbombela in November.
"I have been training with the senior team, I do not feel pain any more. Everything is going well and I'm ready to fight to get back in the starting line-up," he said.
"The team has been doing well, winning trophies. I am fully behind coach Augusto Palacios and the technical staff. I'm prepared to wait for my turn. It has been frustrating not playing soccer for such a long time but what kept me going is that our team won the second successive treble last season. I will continue training hard to remain in great shape."
Palacios said he was impressed by Jele's work rate: "Happy has been doing ball work at training with the rest of the senior team, he is in great shape and will be ready to start playing in three weeks' time. We will give him one match soon to build his confidence, maybe late in the second half. We are not going to rush him."
Meanwhile, Pirates have loaned out two youngsters, Patrick Ngidi and Kabelo Mahlasela, to newly promoted NFD side Winter Roses in Free State.
Aubrey Ngoma has gone back to the University of Pretoria on loan, while Benjamin Nthethe is joining Bay United, who will soon change their name to Polokwane City FC.
Jele back in action soon: Palacios
ORLANDO Pirates and former Bafana Bafana right back Happy Jele is ready to put up a big fight to reclaim his position in the starting line-up.
The lanky Jele has fully recovered from a career-threatening knee injury and is expected back in action in three weeks' time.
Jele damaged knee ligaments (anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments), and tore the meniscus in his knee in a game against BidVest Wits in Mbombela in November.
"I have been training with the senior team, I do not feel pain any more. Everything is going well and I'm ready to fight to get back in the starting line-up," he said.
"The team has been doing well, winning trophies. I am fully behind coach Augusto Palacios and the technical staff. I'm prepared to wait for my turn. It has been frustrating not playing soccer for such a long time but what kept me going is that our team won the second successive treble last season. I will continue training hard to remain in great shape."
Palacios said he was impressed by Jele's work rate: "Happy has been doing ball work at training with the rest of the senior team, he is in great shape and will be ready to start playing in three weeks' time. We will give him one match soon to build his confidence, maybe late in the second half. We are not going to rush him."
Meanwhile, Pirates have loaned out two youngsters, Patrick Ngidi and Kabelo Mahlasela, to newly promoted NFD side Winter Roses in Free State.
Aubrey Ngoma has gone back to the University of Pretoria on loan, while Benjamin Nthethe is joining Bay United, who will soon change their name to Polokwane City FC.
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