Former Orlando Pirates captain Thabo Matlaba breaks silence over his controversial exit - 'Rhulani and Happy Jele were close'

Former Orlando Pirates captain Thabo Matlaba has finally opened up on what led to his exit from the Premier Soccer League side.

The former Bucs defender says he started encountering problems when he was appointed captain. He claims friction developed because the then-head coach, Rhulani Mokwena and Happy Jele, his former teammate, were close.

“To be honest, take nothing away from coach Rhulani, what a coach! He’s the best coach. I always tell people that coach Rhulani Mokwena is the best,” Matlaba is quoted by Soccer Laduma as saying.

“The problem started when I became the captain of Orlando Pirates… because coach Rhulani and Happy Jele were close," he added.

“I went to Happy Jele and offered him captaincy again… I said, ‘Happy, I’m giving you this armband from the bottom of my heart…’ I remember coach Rhulani standing up after hearing me say that and praising me for being selfless.”

Matlaba joined the Sea Robbers in 2012 from Free State Stars and became a key player for the Soweto giants.

He served the club for seven seasons and was appointed the captain following the exits of Siyabonga Sangweni and Oupa Manyisa.

Matlaba was one of the reliable leaders and players for Bucs during his time and served the club for several years, just as Jele did. Both defenders worked under Mokwena in 2019 and 2020 when the South African tactician was in charge on an interim basis.

Matlaba's exit then was linked with a contractual issue, but he has introduced a new twist into that by claiming the leadership at the club was the real problem.

Since leaving troubled and expelled Royal AM, he has joined Golden Arrows.

He started against Pirates for Abafana Bes'thende on May 6, when they lost 2-1 in a PSL match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.