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Jele: Soweto derby can break or build you

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates right-back Happy Jele has admitted that the pressure of playing in a Soweto derby can be career-defining in either a negative or a positive sense.

The 29-year-old is expected to play a part in the upcoming edition of the match between Pirates and Chiefs on Saturday, and he is under no illusions about the high-pressure atmposphere laying in wait.

Bucs won the last official derby between the two sides when they recorded a 2-0 victory in the Nedbank Cup back in March. Striker Tendai Ndoro was the hero as he bagged a brace against the Glamour Boys.

This weekend's encounter is something of a top-of-the-table clash - Amakhosi are currently joint leaders in the Premiership with 13 points, while the Sea Robbers are in third on nine points, albeit with a game in hand.

With that said, Jele is taking nothing for granted ahead of the clash at FNB Stadium.

He told the club's official magazine: "Your first, next and last derby is the same; it will either break you or build you and you need to forget about your last game going into it.

"You have to play for yourself, the supporters and the club so it is big pressure."

Saturday's action gets under way from 15:30 in Johannesburg.

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