Pirates are currently in a promising position to secure their passage either to the 2018/19 CAF Champions League or CAF Confederations Cup.
Still in the running for the Absa Premiership title – occupying second spot on the table at present – the Buccaneers could return to the Champions League for the first time since their 2013 final disappointment.
Failure to solidify their position amongst the top two in the domestic league, their other mechanism of entry could be the Nedbank Cup, in which they face Cape Town City for a spot in the quarter-finals, or a third place finish in the league.
Despite all these permutations, Jele was reluctant to entertain the possibility of seeing the club competing for that elusive second star on their crest.
“For that, we’ll think about it when we win something, then we’ll talk about the desire for the team to go back to Africa,” guarded Jele.
“For now we are looking forward to building up the guys coming into the team so they will be in a good structure for the team, and so that we can compete for something next year.
“Right now we are still in the building process, and we’re looking to the upcoming games and we’ll see what we can do [in them].”
Asked why he would not be drawn on speaking on future prospects for the club, the 31-year-old defender responded: “We can’t predict the future, do you know what’s going to happen tomorrow? You don’t know.
“If you’re going to get a million [rand], do you know that? You don’t know... What if something happens now?
“That’s why we’re thinking about the game on Wednesday, we’re focussing on it, and then we’re done.”
Pressed by the journalist on whether he is reluctant to commit to answering for fear of creating expectation, Jele responded with disdain: “I don’t know, that’s your thoughts.”