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Mokwena insists Jali is the footballer of the season so far

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Thembela Sikhakhane of AmaZulu challenged by Andile Jali of Mamelodi Sundowns during the DStv Premiership 2021/22 football match between AmaZulu and Sundowns at Kings Park Stadium, Durban on 20 December 2021 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena insists midfielder Andile Jali deserves to be viewed as the potential footballer of the season after another clean sweep from Downs in the December monthly PSL awards.

Mokwena and co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi won their third successive Coach of the Month award on Monday as their side continue to dominate the league, while Jali was named Player of the Month for December for his role in his side’s dominance.

After picking up several man-of-the-match awards, Mokwena feels that Jali is not getting the recognition he deserves and insisted that the conversation around the midfielder winning footballer of the season has to start.

“What’s important is that we continue to work in this way. And if you continue to work in this way, then maybe the debate will start because I’m very surprised that with AJ’s performances with Mshishi’s [Themba Zwane] consistency and performances, we haven’t started the debate of the footballer of the season. I’m very surprised,” Mokwena told the club media department yesterday.

“So, hopefully now that AJ has won Footballer of the Month, and rightfully so, I’m not sure how many he’s won now already, one or two, but that’s OK.

“The reflection on the performances cannot be based on those individual awards but based on man of the match that he’s already chalked up. The consistency in the performances, and then maybe with the media we can start the talk of, is Andile Jali the footballer of the season so far?

“And I would be very surprised if we don’t start that talk yet.”

Meanwhile, Mokwena also praised the entire squad after the coaching staff picked up yet another award.

“You get these awards because the team is winning because of the players and the rest of the support staff. We would like to extend a huge congratulation to our support staff and the rest of the technical team for their contribution towards the success of the club.”

Mngqithi said although they won the award, they were not happy that they had dropped five points during the December period.

“This is one period where we didn’t have the best performances. We even dropped points. I think we dropped five points out of 21 that we were supposed to get,” he said.

“We only managed to get 16, but still it was a very good return, but thanks to everyone for making the club have all the resources to be able to achieve what we got.”