Jali situation: Chiefs are the biggest losers

Andile Jali’s situation could have gone either way and he could have signed for any of the three teams that were after his services, but in the end Mamelodi Sundowns were his destination, ahead of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. He may have found a new home at Chloorkop, but I feel Chiefs are the biggest losers in this one.

Looking back at Amakhosi’s three seasons without any silverware, the Glamour Boys appeared to be in desperate need of a player of Jali’s calibre. They needed a midfielder of his quality to complement the likes of George Maluleke going forward in the centre of the park, because they are lacking in this department.

I say Chiefs are the biggest losers because their deadly rivals Orlando Pirates have a number of quality midfielders who are sound both in defence and in attack.

But now that he is at Sundowns, the level of competition at the club will raise the roof because he goes into a team where the likes of captain Hlompho Kekana and Tiyani Mabunda are dominating in their midfield.

However, it is without a shadow of a doubt that Jali is a fighter and is one player who always embraces a challenge. He is a player who comes with the pedigree of having played overseas and he joins a team where the competition is too tight.

I suspect he is out to prove himself and he will do his best. When you join a team of Sundowns’ calibre, it only goes to show how confident he is in his talent and his quality – only time will tell if he will able to deliver because all eyes are on him.

One thing that I noticed after the announcement that Sundowns have won the race for Jali’s services, is the issue of loyalty, which was a concern raised by the Pirates fans.

In this day and age, loyalty is no longer a prominent factor when it comes to transfers. Yes, it is not a secret that the Buccaneers contributed a tremendous amount in the emergence of Jali, who went on to play for KV Oostende in Belgium and earned numerous Bafana Bafana call-ups.

However, there are a lot of factors that players need to consider before they rejoin their previous clubs. They have to access the situation and say “I have played for this club before I went abroad, now that I am coming back, will I add to the value in the team in its current state?”

Also, they have to consider whether the team is at the same level that it was when they left, and in its current state, will they be effective or not? Such questions come to mind when a player has to make a final decision and notwithstanding the financial implications. Sundowns are known as a team that compensate their players a lot better than their rivals. This is a huge factor because when a player is left with a few years in his legs, it is important to consider the options that will earn him more money so that he is able to look after himself and his family.

I personally feel it would have been nice for Andile to have stayed in Europe for a bit longer. It may sound like a broken record but the experience of a player who is plying his trade abroad becomes very useful in the national team.

Having a prolonged career overseas also serves as an inspiration for the young up-and-coming players who aspire to reach that level, but based on the personal reasons that motivated him to come back, we cannot judge.