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The SA Football Players Union (Safpu) will this week intervene in the ongoing Andile Jali saga.
The Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana midfielder was last week reported to be struggling with an alcohol problem which partly led to his appearing in a Pretoria court on Tuesday for alleged domestic violence after spending Monday night in a police cell.
It emerged in the week that Boschkop police officers were looking for his wife, Nonhle Ndala, after Jali opened a case of assault against her.
Safpu president Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe told City Press on Friday: “I spoke to Andile and we have agreed to meet next week (this coming week) as he was busy preparing for their game (played yesterday) against Baroka FC.
“We are prepared to intervene if indeed there are problems. But first we need to sit down with him and get to the bottom of this, because we cannot just go according to media reports.”
Gaoshubelwe said the union had several intervention programmes in place to assist players who got into trouble.
He said the union had been running a programme called Drink IQ for the past five years. It specifically helped players who had drinking problems.
“Alcohol is a societal problem not confined to footballers only. However, because they are public figures they attract more attention. The programme helps them with knowing how to limit their drinking, and how to choose the right friends. They are even advised that it is better to drink at home rather than in public places.”
Gaoshubelwe mentioned two players – David Mkandawire, formerly with Zim Warriors, and Junaid Hartley – who he said the union had plucked out of a drinking quagmire.
Both now hold D and C coaching licences.
Gaoshubelwe said the union was growing in leaps and bounds and membership now stood at “around 80% of combined Premier League and National First Division players”.
He also revealed that the union was in constant contact with retired English Premier League players to learn about the problems they encountered during their playing days so that the lessons could be passed on to the current crop of SA players.
Despite the negative reports, Jali’s performances on the pitch have been out of this world. Reported bust-ups with coach Pitso Mosimane have been denied by both parties, with the coach insisting that Jali was to be in the travelling squad for yesterday’s Telkom Knockout match against Baroka FC in Polokwane.
Jali played one of the games of his life last week when Masandawana overcame a stubborn Chippa United 1-0 away from home.
The contrast between the reports on his life and his sparkling performances on the field have created even more anticipation about whether national coach Stuart Baxter will include him when he announces his squad tomorrow for the crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa’s nemesis, Nigeria.
The match will be at the FNB Stadium next Saturday, November 17.
