ONE of Bafana Bafana’s leading midfielders in recent years, Andile Jali, sees Hugo Broos’ national team as not fully mature enough to go a long way in the World Cup which starts in two months in Mexico, Canada and the United States (USA).
Recently, Bafana lost to Panama in two games that left Jali completely unhappy It is a country that he saw it as not mature enough.
It should be that Broos doesn’t stay busy, since he will start in June, this tournament where they will be drawn against Mexico, Korea Republic and Czechia in Group A.
After Jali, who played for Bafana 45 times, watched them struggle and get beaten by Panama in Durban and Cape Town recently, he was left with the feeling that he will not go far in this competition.
“There is a fire that I expected in these games but what I did not see coming from the eyes of the players who will fight for their country in the world stage,” said Jali.
“Personally, I saw that Panama was the best and I quickly calmed down about the distance we will travel in the World Cup.
“I’m not criticizing anyone, but maybe there’s a stick they’ve thrown in the dirt from the coach to his players because if they’re going to go the way they did in Panama, we’ll be back in the morning.
“I’m not saying that we are at the level of contending for the title, but in the last few years we have been growing. African football is growing, so it would be good if Bafana could seriously compete in Group A.
“There are players in Bafana but they have not put in all the effort so that we can beat the national teams we have been drawn with in Group A.
“There is a lot that needs to change in the minds of all the players. It’s not that the team is a mess but there is a unity that none of them would be useful in this battle they are going to.
“It’s better because there are still a few months left for Broos to send a different message to his players,” said Jali.
Jali was part of the players who were going to play in the 2010 World Cup but ended up not being included in the final squad due to an illness that affected his heart. He played in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).