JOHANNESBURG - Will the significant signing of midfield dynamo Andile Jali propel Mamelodi Sundowns to great heights in this year's Caf Champions League?
Sundowns are in the group stages of the Champions League, but they haven't enjoyed the best of starts.
After two rounds, Masandawana are currently third in Group C, two points behind leaders Wydad Casablanca and second-placed Horoya, with AS Togo-Port propping up the standings on zero points. IOL Sport has learned that Sundowns are busy with the process of registering Jali in their Champions League squad.
"Sundowns will no doubt register Jali in their Caf Champions League team. As soon as they come back, they will register him and Tony Silva," a source at Sundowns revealed. Jali penned a five-year deal last week. The Bafana star spent four years in Belgium plying his trade for KV Oostende.
Jali possesses continental pedigree, having reached the final of the Caf Champions League with Orlando Pirates in 2013, where they were defeated by Al Ahly. He has 44 Bafana caps under his belt. In 2015, the midfield ace represented his country in the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
A new era begins!
➖ #WelcomeJali pic.twitter.com/PoGzRFpOpx
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) June 8, 2018
Sundowns spokesperson Thulani Thuswa said he knows nothing about Jali being registered in their Caf squad. "We are still on holiday. I haven't been in contact with the technical team. I will only get in touch with them once they come back for pre-season, but we will make proper announcements as soon as we are back," Thuswa stated.
Sundowns' next assignment in the Caf Champions League is against AS Togo-Port away in Lome on July 17.