Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Andile Jali has discussed the complex character of his former coach Pitso Mosimane, explaining how his approach could sometimes lead players to feel as though he didn’t like them.
After signing from Belgian club Oostende in 2018, the Matatiele-born Jali made 62 appearances under Mosimane at Sundowns, remaining part of the squad until 2020.
During their time at the Brazilians, the duo’s best season came in the 2019/20 treble-winning campaign, in which they secured the league, Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout.
ANDILE JALI: PITSO MOSIMANE LIKED TO CATCH YOU OFF GUARD
The relationship extended beyond domestic competition into the CAF Champions League, with Jali making 14 appearances under Mosimane.
“People view him in a certain way,” Jali said on the Arena Sports Show podcast after he was asked to describe Mosimane’s style of management. “Everyone says they don’t understand Pitso sometimes. Because sometimes he is saying this, but he is saying that.
“Pitso… that coach, ungacinga ukuthi akakufuni today [you may easily believe he dislikes you], tomorrow he wakes you to say he wants you.
“He is the coach who will catch you off guard. He can say you are not going to start this weekend, and you will believe it. The next thing you look at the starting line-up and your name is there. He really liked to catch you off guard like that. He liked to find out what type of character you are.
PITSO MOSIMANE ‘DID THAT TO MAKE ME ANGRY’
“Most people lost so much because they believed that they were not good enough to play for him. You just needed to always be ready. When that day came for him to give you the chance, you were ready.
“He would surprisingly take me from home and straight to the starting 11. From the starting 11 to home again. Not even back to the bench, but home again. It was like that between him and me.
“I was not even asking him why he was doing that, because I knew he was doing that to make me angry,” Jali concluded.
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