Orlando Pirates legend Happy Jele has shared his admiration for Thabiso Sesane‘s standout performances this season, admitting that he’s been surprised by the 23-year-old’s growth.
Before an unfortunate injury in February, Sesane had been one of the Buccaneers’ most reliable players, and the team’s defensive struggles since his absence have highlighted his influence on the pitch.
Jele, who has known Sesane since his promotion to the first team, praised the defender’s development over the last year.
“Sesane has developed so much. I know him since he was promoted to the first team, and many others have seen him step up in the past 12 months. He’s always been a great player, but now everyone knows it,” Jele told iDiski Times.
Jele explained that Orlando Pirates recognized Sesane’s potential early on, which is why he was sent out on loan to gain experience.
“They wanted to build him up, so he went on loan and came back. They always saw the potential he had. As a senior player, I told him, ‘When the time comes, you’ll grab the chance.’”
Reflecting on his own early days at Pirates, Jele recalled how he too had to wait for his opportunity. He noted that Sesane’s determination to seize his chance, despite spending several seasons waiting for a starting spot, was something that impressed him.
“I was once in his shoes. When I first joined Pirates, I didn’t play for two or three seasons, but when I got my chance after Seema and Tonic left, I raised my hand and started playing. Now, Sesane has stepped up after waiting three seasons, and the way he’s playing has really surprised me. He’s doing something fabulous,” Jele added.
Unfortunately, Sesane’s momentum was halted when he suffered a ruptured tendon during Orlando Pirates’ 2-1 win over Sekhukhune United last month, leaving a significant gap in the team’s defense.
