With a number of talented young players leaving Kaizer Chiefs, former Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele has revealed his story on why he snubbed Amakhosi for the Buccaneers as a youth player.
TS Galaxy have been benefitting from some of the best young players at Chiefs reserves, who leave the club when promotion opportunities are not available.
Ntandoyenkosi Nkosi, who captained Amakhosi to their first DStv Diski Challenge title last season, made headlines when he switched to The Rockets, joining the likes of Puso Dithejane, Thato Khiba (sold to Stellenbosch) and Khulumani Ndamane, who is reportedly wanted by Mamelodi Sundowns.
Siphesihle Tati, who was the vice-captain to Nkosi, is also set to join the Mpumalanga side, according to local reports.
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Jele, who made his debut as a youngster in the PSL for Pirates, has revealed that he also had an offer from the Glamour Boys and has revealed why he chose The Buccaneers coming from the amateur ranks.
"It happened whereby I had to value where (Chiefs) would put me, so Kaizer Chiefs at the time wanted me to go to the U-19 development and I was like 18, and next year we're gonna promote you," Jele said on G2G Podcast YouTube Channel.
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"When you are coming from a (township) you can be happy but remember you just finished grade 12 and (you have to spend a year without a salary).
"And here comes this team (Pirates) they (want) to sign me to play in the PSL. So at least I'm signing for PSL and I love this team as well. I'm signing for a team I used to support, let me go there and once you go there, things change. You need to feed the family. I had to choose which one is good for me and the family. I ended up choosing Pirates. I was patient and things changed," the former Buccaneer skipper added.
Stellenbosch left-back Omega Mdaka, who is likely to fill the void left by Fawaaz Basadien, who was transfered to Sundowns, was also snatched from Amakhosi after starring in the Diski Challenge but not promoted to the first team.