Chippa coach explains surprise Jali’s substitution at half-time against Pirates
Chippa United head coach Kwanele Kopo has explained Andile Jali’s surprise substitution against Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Chilli Boys suffered a 2-1 defeat against Pirates in their first match of the Betway Premiership. Chippa took an early lead in the first-half with a long-range strike from ex-Bucs star Jali.
Pirates found an equaliser on the stroke of half-time through Tshegofatso Mabasa, who scored from the penalty spot. In a match that looked to be heading for a draw, the Soweto giants scored the winner courtesy of Monnapule Saleng in the dying minutes of the tie.
Before Jali’s substitution at half-time, the experienced star was bossing the midfield and prevented his former team, Pirates, from playing their usual position-based football.
The 34-year-old midfielder was crucial for Chippa in the build-up play and breaking the attack from Pirates.
The Pirates clash marked Jali’s debut for Chippa United, having joined the club as a free agent during the off-season.
KWANELE KOPO REVEALS ANDILE JALI WAS SUBSTITUTED DUE TO HAMSTRING INJURY
Kopo says Jali was substituted because of a hamstring injury which he sustained a few days before the mouth-watering clash against Bucs.
“In central midfield, we had Andile Jali, but we lost him just before half-time, hamstring,” Kopo said after the game. “Andile complained of his hamstring, and we just asked him to hold on until half-time.
“His substitution really gave us a tactical challenge because we had to drop Aya [Ayabulela Konqobe] in central midfield, and then we brought in an out-an-out winger, and we struggled with the build-up because we could not create the block that we wanted in midfield because it needed now to come from either Sirgio Kammies or [Malebogo]Modise but none of them really went in there so in the second-half we lost that continuity in terms of our possession play.
“In the second-half, the moment we lost Andile, we lost the shape, and Pirates came at us more, and we felt that the substitutions that we made, we were hoping that they would lift the speed of attack, the pressing, but it did not happen that way.
Kopo added: “He is not 100 per cent fit yet, but because of the challenges we have in central midfield, we felt that even if he gave us 60 minutes. We were hoping that he could give us 60 minutes of leadership, and we knew with him, we would be able to be on the ball more. We needed an Andile to guide our build-up and give these youngsters confidence.
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