A pair of boots bought by his father when he was five set Njabulo Jele on a path that now runs through UJ’s midfield. Paired with Sinenhlanhla Mkhonza at the base of the team, the second-year Sports Management student has become one of the more understated but important figures behind the Orange Army’s play this season.
He points to Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana’s Tebogo Mokoena as a role model, and not purely for footballing reasons.
ALSO: Built for the Pitch – Tshego Mabasa in Under Armour
“Tebogo Mokoena inspires me a lot. I do not look up to him only because we play the same position, but also in how he handles his life affairs. He is a person who is strictly rooted in family values and the wellbeing of his family,” Jele says.
Kaizer Chiefs and Barcelona shape how he approaches the position, and rather than shrinking from the exposure that comes with being broadcast nationally every fortnight, Jele treats it as motivation.
AFRICA PICKS: Football tips and predictions
“Being on the screen every second week becomes a motivation by itself to push me to work hard and rise to the standards that are set,” he says. “It felt surreal, and that’s when I noticed that we really have great supporters who are proud of us representing them in the tournament.”
As a proud Varsity Football partner, SportPesa remains committed to growing the game and giving South African football talent a platform to shine.
Sign up for SportPesa FICA Bonus
Photo: Asem Engage
Photo: Christiaan Kotze / Asem Engage
