With Hugo Broos continuing not to call up Andile Jali to his Bafana Bafana squad, here is what the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder said about the national team coach recently.
Jali, 32, has once again been left out of Broos’ 23-man Bafana squad for the upcoming friendlies against Sierra Leone and Botswana, while his teammate Themba Zwane has been called up.
Many were left wondering, why the Belgian tactician was able to change his mind over Zwane, but not over Jali, insisting that he will not call up the latter without giving further explanation.
Many are left wondering how Jali sees the situation, in particular because he is considered as one of the best midfielders in the league after he walked away with three awards at the last season’s awards gala.
In a rare public interview, Jali had addressed his views on Broos with Robert Marawa earlier in the year.
“You see if I was the Andile of 2015 I would answer you in a different way or say something I would regret tomorrow and wake up questioning why I said what I said,” he said on Marawa Sports Worldwide, as translated from Xhosa.
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“He says he knows me but he did what he did before he even saw me, but he won’t listen to anyone telling him what to do.
“I’m happy where I am. My coaches are good, they are good, I’m playing well with my teammates, I no longer have as many injuries. I’m really happy where I am and I’m working hard for my team.
“But I’m available all the time.”
Jali also stated that he’s “not at all” hurt by the continuous omission of the coach before insisting he feels he could help the national team.
“Yes, [I could help] in a big way, that’s why I told you anytime I’m always available,” he added.
To explain the relationship with Broos, Jali made an analogy to a neighbour that never greets until one day he might changes his mind.
“The coach is like a neighbour that hates you but he doesn’t know why he hates you,” he said.
“Sometimes the neighbour just greets you after a while and you’re shocked at the sudden change after so long. I’m waiting for the neighbour now.”
When asked what he would do, if the day where the neighbour [Broos] changes his mind were to arrive, he said he’d “greet him back and even invite him out for lunch”.
