Chippa United midfield enforcer Andile Jali’s surprise revelation on how coach Steve Barker converted him from a right winger to a midfielder was after the team fell short in that role due to injuries.
This was during his days playing for the University of Pretoria under the tutelage of coach Barker between 2008-2009, who led his charges all the way to the Ke Yona final where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Moroka Swallows.
AmaTuks had the likes of Jali, Mthokozisi Yende, Bongani Zungu, Washington Arubi, Mame Niang just to mention a few amongst others. Barker’s charges sprung a few surprises along the way to the final, even eliminating Kaizer Chiefs 4-3 in the Round of 16.
Speaking to Lwazi Ziqubu on the Nedbank Uncovered podcast, flanked by former Chiefs star Yende, ‘AJ15’ revealed on how the transition came about.
“I was playing right-wing before,” Jali said on the Nedbank Uncovered podcast.
“I was playing right winger. I was too tiny when I arrived at Tuks.
“Our middle-fielders they got injured at that time, so that’s when Coach Steve Barker said, ‘No man, I remember you, you were playing in the middle-field Coca-Cola football stars’.
“I said yes! And he put me there.
“Then I said it’s okay, since I’m fighting against the giants there, we had Mdu and then another Mdu – big Brian Mdu, they were giants.
“I started there bit by bit, Nedbank and after that, the rest of the story is history,” he added.
Now 34, Jali is looking to become a vital cog in coach Kwanele Kopo’s Chilli Boys outfit by slowly working his way back to full fitness.
