Sipho Mbule and Andile Jali have been in the news all week, purportedly after Mamelodi Sundowns suspended the two.
Both stars have missed the club’s last couple of games, but the club has not announced anything.
Mbule, who joined Mamelodi Sundowns before the start of the season, last featured on 7 February. This was in Sundowns’ 3-2 Nedbank Cup last-32 win against Richards Bay FC on 7 February.
The former SuperSport United midfielder was crowned man of the match on the day.
Jali, whose contract expires at the end of June, last played at the end of January. On the day, Sundowns beat Sekhukhune United 2-0 in a league clash.
The midfield duo were not at the Nedbank Cup last 16 tie against Marumo Gallants in Bloemfontein.
Of course, Mbule was serving a suspension, as explained by Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena, after picking four yellow cards.
“Unfortunately, Sipho is suspended for the next match, so he’s not in contention. But one game at a time, and we’ll see how we can go with Sipho leading up to Stellenbosch.”
On the other hand, Jali reportedly came to training drunk, leading to his alleged suspension.
However, when asked to comment on the supposed suspensions, Mokwena said: “Well, I’ve said, if you look for negatives from me about my players, I don’t have. I’ll never speak negatively about my players. Never, ever, ever. So I’ve got no comment on that.”
WHERE THE ANDILE JALI, SIPHO MBULE REPORTS EMANATED
A local football publication reported that an unnamed Mamelodi Sundowns player who had been sidelined tested positive for an illegal substance.
Coincidentally, 24-year-old Mbule, who has had a fair share of disciplinary incidents during his SuperSport United days, and Jali were reportedly suspended.
However, the SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) is on record, saying the DStv Premiership currently has a clean testing bill for the 2022/23 campaign. SAIDS said there were no positive test results for any illegal substance abuse.
The organisation does test PSL players regularly, and whenever there is a positive test, they go through the normal process of disclosure.
Another publication then reported that the 24-year-old former Matsatsantsa star was sent home from a training session “about two weeks ago” because he arrived drunk.
THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT
FARPost caught up with the man who discovered Mbule and developed him at Harmony Academy in the Free State, Pitso Mokoena.
According to Mokoena, his former player dismissed as untrue allegations of arriving at training drunk.
According to Mokoena, Mbule said: ‘Coach, I know you are calling based on the news and coach, I’m not involved. I’m not in a hearing. I don’t know the story. I was not in the team because I was serving a suspension of four yellow cards, and coach, there is nothing; I’m still behaving, disciplined, and happy.’
FARPost can further confirm that Mbule was part of the travelling party to Stellenbosch FC on Saturday, 4 March. The team left OR Tambo on Saturday evening headed for Cape Town.
Stellenbosch host Sundowns at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellies. Mbule could play a part in that game.
“He travelled with the team to Cape Town for the game against Stellenbosch. Maybe Coach Rulani will give him a few minutes,” a Sundowns staffer told FARPost.
A win for Sundowns in the Winelands will mean a record-extending 16th successive win in the DStv Premiership.
It would move them to 58 points, with second-placed SuperSport on 36 points with just nine games before the curtain comes down on the 2022/23 season.
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