Kaizer Chiefs Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr. has broken his silence on linking Amakhosi with Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Andile Jali, whose contract runs out in less than three months.
Jali, 33, has not been part of Sundowns’ squad since early February after reports appeared that he had allegedly arrived under the influence of alcohol to training.
While Rulani Mokwena continuously protected the player and didn’t want to share any interna with the public, it is understood that Sundowns and Jali will part ways when his current deal expires in June.
One of the clubs linked with his services is Chiefs, but Motaung Jr. insisted the midfielder is currently not on the list of targets, even though he called him a “top player”.
“Andile Jali is a top player, achieved really, really big things. He’s always been an amazing contributor to South African football,” he told Thabiso Mosia on Radio2000.
“Many years ago, I think there was interest from the club when he came back from Belgium to see if he can come on board.
“I think the linking part is sometimes the one that causes a bit of tension because there is nothing officially from our side because he is a Sundowns player.
“The coaches they know how to make up their midfield and who they want. Andile is a Sundowns player, he’s not part of the thinking for us.”
Motaung Jr. also opened up on Chiefs’ interest in Jali when he returned from Europe, saying the timing wasn’t right for them to get the deal over the line.
“That’s part of football,” he added.
“I think maybe the timing didn’t materialise and it’s just something that wasn’t meant for us.
“Obviously the rest is history, he want to Sundowns and achieved many things.
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“He’s always a quality player – whether someone is 36, 38, 18, 24, I think his quality speaks for himself, he’s a top player.”
Jali, who is understood to have traveled to Durban this week to meet with his agent Mike Makaab, would be free to sign a pre-contract with a club of choosing because he’s in the final sixth months of his current deal.
