Rejuvenated Pirates please Jele

Bucs finished outside the top eight for the first time in the Premier Soccer League era, and that memory still lingers with the Bucs defender, who is doubly determined to help the team get back to their best.

Bucs have certainly shown some improvement this season under new coach Micho Sredojevic. The club is currently sitting third in the Premiership standings with 33 points after 21 games, just five points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, and they are also in contention for the Nedbank Cup title after making it through to the last-16 of the competition.

“Last season was not good, we did not play well and we did not get good results. For now, we will take it one game at a time. We are trying to improve from last season game by game, we will try by all means to go to the next round of the Nedbank Cup. We finished 13th last season and we need to improve on that,” said the Bucs defender.

This campaign, the Buccaneers were busy in the January transfer window, bringing in a couple of new players.

One of the new players is reigning Zambian Footballer-of-the- Year Augustine Mulenga, and Jele believes the striker will add value to the team after watching him play for Zambia in the recent 2018 Chan tournament held in Morocco, but says he will need to work hard for a place in the starting side.

“He is a good player, I saw him play in the Chan. I spent some time with him and told him he is a good player and that he needs to help the team as well,” Jele added.

“He is going to make a huge impact in the team. Each and everyone in the team who plays is doing well. We are trying to improve in each and every game and everyone is competing for the starting line-up. I just believe he also needs to compete for his position.”

Bucs’ next fixture is against Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.