As Mamelodi Sundowns prepare to face Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final second leg, co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi backs experienced midfielder Andile Jali to bounce back.
Jali was embarrassed by Pirates midfielder Monnapule Saleng in the first leg at Orlando Stadium but Mngqithi believes ‘big boy’ Jali is now itching to face his former bosses on Saturday afternoon.
The two DStv Premiership giants are gunning for a spot in the final and Jali will be key for the Tshwane club to defend their MTN8 title.
Mngqithi’s sentiments come as Jali was ridiculed after the 0-0 first leg as he was embarrassed by Saleng who outplayed him and he landed awkwardly on the ground.
“Andile is a big boy, he is not a small boy. To be honest I don’t think he played bad in the previous match,” Mngqithi told the media this week.
“When we wanted to inject a little bit of intensity, we made a choice of taking him out. But, it was not necessarily because he had a bad performance.
“When you say he was humbled, I think maybe you are talking about what Saleng did to him. But the truth of the matter is that in football you must expect those types of things.
“You might concede a stupid goal, it happens in football. I am not even perturbed by what happened to him because I know he is a very strong boy and a strong character and probably he is itching for the next assignment which is good and plays to our advantage.”
Meanwhile, Saleng netted a brace for the Buccaneers against Golden Arrows in their midweek match and he believes they can beat the Brazilians, Sundowns at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
As the Premier Soccer League and tournament organisers announced that the clash is a sold-out affair, the South African football family is anticipating a thriller at 15:30.
Main Image: Andile Jali/Goal.Com
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