Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Andile Jali’s lack of recognition and praise has been questioned by coach Rulani Mokwena after an incredible first half 2021/22 season.
Jali, 31, is currently at the peak of his powers with his fitness unquestionable as one of the first names on the team sheet across all competitions as Sundowns challenge for multiple honours.
However, he’s been overlooked for national team selection since the appointment of Hugo Broos – who notably looked toward a more youthful squad.
But Mokwena suggested he’d perhaps receive more recognition and praise in Mzansi had he been donning the colours of one of the Soweto giants.
“He’s been like that the entire season, these [Sundowns] players do not get the recognition they deserve, they don’t,” Mokwena said.
“Maybe the yellow jersey is the problem, if they were wearing a different colour, they would get recognition and praise from the country.
“It’s incredible, Andile Jali has played 2042 minutes, when last have you heard Andile Jali playing so many minutes you know, it’s incredible.
“AJ has been superb, you run out of superlatives when you talk about him, this is the mentality, I was reading the other day when Pep Guardiola was talking about Rodri and how important it’s been for City to have him playing at a certain level every single game.
“When you have possessional football as a playing-model or concept, it’s very important that your deep-lying playmaker or six is a player that has a lot of consistency and is always at the right level because any drop in performances exposes the team.”
Jali has won three consecutive league titles with Masandawana since returning to South Africa in 2018 – following a four-year stint in the Belgium top-flight with Oostende.
