Chippa United coach Kwanele Kopo issued an update on veteran midfielder Andile Jali’s absence from Wednesday’s match against Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership.
Jali has featured in two matches and scored one goal since the beginning of the new 2023/24 season for The Chilli Boys.
The 34-year-old was a notable absentee when Chippa played to a 1-1 draw against Babina Noko in the Betway Premiership at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
Kopo has since explained that the club made a decision to exclude him from the team due to a hamstring injury.
WHY ANDILE JALI WAS ABSENT FOR CHIPPA UNITED AT PETER MOKABA STADIUM
“Yes, it was a cautious decision not to play him. It was really more a cautious decision than him not being available at all,” Kopo explained.
“We didn’t want to lose Andile for the home game. We have taken a position that we really want to try and win all our home games and we must be at full strength to do that for our home games.
“So we took a cautious decision. He has been struggling a little bit with his hamstring. Andile is not young. If that hamstring snaps, it’s going to take a long time for him to come back. So he is still not one hundred percent also in terms of fitness. But we appreciate his contribution.”
HOW THE FORMER BAFANA BAFANA INTERNATIONAL IS PLAYING AN INFLUENTIAL ROLE FOR THE BETWAY PREMIERSHIP SIDE
“If you looked, Andile was standing right by the tunnel behind the bench. When we came in at half-time, he was the first one to give us the clips of what was happening on the pitch. So I always say that when Andile is playing, he is the coach we have on the field.
“Today he was not playing, he became the extra eye from the stands. So he is very influential in the team. Very experienced player, who knows exactly these kinds of situations, when you are one man down how do you close the game. So his influence has been positive. Both on and off the field.”
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