Happy Jele was unavailable for Orlando Pirates' goalless draw at home against Esperance in Group B of their CAF Champions League clash at the weekend due to a bout of flu.
But the Buccaneers skipper appears to have now been given the thumbs up to return to action ahead of Saturday's Absa Premiership Soweto Derby against rivals Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium.
Should he play – as expected – Jele will become the first Pirates player to feature in a quarter of a century of derbies (25). Lucky Lekgwathi previously held the record (22) but was surpassed by the current Bucs skipper, with Thabo Matlaba (16) the closest to playing as many matches against Amakhosi.
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What may come as a surprise also is the fact that Jele, who turned 32 last month, has also only ever scored in a Soweto Derby just once before – when Pirates beat the Glamour Boys 2-1 in September 2011. That was derby number 13 for Jele and he had either been on the losing end or managed a draw when he'd been on the pitch for Pirates in South Africa's biggest football fixture.
Itumeleng Khune, who is out injured for the rest of the season and will not play on Saturday, is the player with the second most number of derby appearances behind former teammate Siphiwe Tshabalala. Khune has played in 27 matches in both league and cup, while 'Shabba', who now plays in Turkey, has managed 31.
