REVEALED | When Andile Jali plans to retire! 

Andile Jali is set to be a free agent after reports that he will be released by Mamelodi Sundowns at the conclusion of his deal at the end of the season.

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Mamelodi Sundowns have exiled Jali from their squad since early this year and it is now looking unlikely that he will be seen wearing their colours again.

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Jali was exiled from the Sundowns squad due to reports of the midfielder attending training still under the influence of alcohol. Before that incident, it was thought that his former club Orlando Pirates were interested in his services, while their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs were even strongly rumoured to be readying a January offer to try and tempt the veteran to jump ship ahead of the second half of the current season.

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For Chiefs, however, their approach reportedly came to a halt after the drinking incident, with club sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jr coming out publicly to say the club were never keen on the player.  On the Pirates side, their interest came before they signed another veteran midfielder in Makhehlene Makhaula. Since then, there have been very little if any links between the two parties. It has since been the likes of SuperSport United, Stellenbosch FC, Cape Town City FC  and AmaZulu who have been credited with an interest in Jali’s services since. 

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While the debate on where Jali will eventually end up rages on, it appears the midfield hardman’s release from Sundowns has now officially been confirmed by his agent Mike Makaab. The agent also, in the process let slip how many years left in the game, Jali thinks he has. 

When Jali will retire

“We’re trying to finalise the issue with Sundowns out of respect for both parties. He wants to play and believes he’s got two more years, at least. He was outstanding last year and good in the first few months of this season – but things can change. We will have to play it by ear now,” said Makaab on the future of Jali to SABC Sport.

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That could further derail plans for other clubs to sign Jali, knowing that they cannot plan long-term with such a quality player. It could see clubs skip him for younger and cheaper options.