With 19-year-old Mbekezeli Mbokazi officially named one of the leaders at Orlando Pirates, former captain Happy Jele has revealed how the club spots natural leaders.
After being handed the captain's armband in some pre-season matches, with new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou putting his head on the block that he expects Mbokazi to be one of their main players ahead of 2025/26 season.
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The teenage defender was officially named one of the vice captains at The Buccaneers, along with Tapelo Xoki, who will both be assisting new skipper Nkosinathi Sibisi.
The Soweto giants revealed in their statement that the captains and vice captains process was made through a confidential voting by the players themselves.
However, Jele, who captained Ezimnyama for the better of his career, starting at an early age, has revealed that Chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza has a tendency to dig deep in the personalities that sign with the club and believes that played a role in him eventually given the responsibility to skipper the side.
"I think firstly it's the Chairman (Dr. Irvin Khoza), when the Chairman signs you, he goes through his homework about the player, from a young age, to where he is now, he goes back in the background," Jele revealed on G2G Podcast YouTube Channel.
"He's the kind of person who knows his story. For me I think someone told him or he saw the leadership skills on me. And also with the teammates, sometimes they are the ones that make you a leader.
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"They can see what kind of a player you are and give you that platform, and say, 'We believe in you, you can lead us'. For me I think It was natural, I've been a leader (from a young age)," Jele added.
Former Buccaneer skipper, who was also highly-rated, as captain for club and country, Mbulelo 'OJ' Mabizela became the youngest skipper at the Soweto giants at age 21 ahead of 2002/03 season.
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