Andile Jali Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Andile Jali
Personal information
Full name	Andile Ernest Jali
Date of birth	(1990-04-10) 10 April 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth	Matatiele, South Africa
Height	1.70m
Playing position	Defensive midfielder, Central midfielder
Club information
Current club	Moroka Swallows
Number	15
Youth career
2002–2005	Hot Spurs
2006–2007	Matatiele Professionals
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2007–2009	Pretoria University	29	(1)
2009–2014	Orlando Pirates	98	(8)
2014–2018	K.V. Oostende	103	(1)
2018–2023	Mamelodi Sundowns	87	(1)
2023–2024	Moroka Swallows	11	(0)
National team^‡
2010–2021	South Africa	49	(5)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 March 2024. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 March 2024

Andile Ernest Jali (born 10 April 1990) is a South African professional soccer player who once played for Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and is currently signed to Moroka Swallows. He also plays for the South African national team.

Club career
International career
- International goals
Honours
- Individual
See also

Club career

Mhlekazi, as his teammates refer to him, has made a name for himself since moving from the National First Division side Pretoria University to Soweto giants Orlando Pirates.

He joined Orlando Pirates in 2009. He since became the subject of favourable comparisons to Benedict Vilakazi - who wore the number 15 jersey before Jali.

Jali was part of the Orlando Pirates squad that made history in South African football by winning three trophies in one season under Dutch coach Ruud Krol. The same team went on to defend two of their trophies won in the previous year and also win another to make it a back to back treble. Jali has established himself as one of the most important players in the Orlando Pirates squad, winning several trophies at his time at the club. Partly due to his success with the Soweto side, he was touted as the future captain of the South African national team (Bafana Bafana). He has also received acclaim for his performances with some analysts claiming he has the potential to make a name for himself in European football.

In January 2014, Jali signed for Belgian Pro League team K.V. Oostende. During the 2015–16 season, he's second at the club; Jali was impressive, helping guide Oostende to a 5th-place finish in the Belgian Pro League.

In 2023 he moved to Moroka Swallows, but the club faced major internal problems with players leading a strike. Moroka Swallows forfeited two league games. In January 2024, over 20 players were fired, including Jali. Jali lost a legal case against Moroka Swallows.

International career

He was a member of the South African squad at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

He made his debut for South Africa in 2010. In 2010, Jali was named in the preliminary 30-man South African squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup but missed out on the 23-man squad because of a mild heart condition which ruled him out of the competition.

During 2015, Jali was called up the 2015 African Cup of Nations, playing in South Africa's games against Algeria, Ghana and Senegal in the competition.

International goals

Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	4 September 2011	Stade Général Seyni Kountché, Niamey, Niger	Niger	1–2	1–2	2012 African Cup of Nations qualification
2.	8 October 2015	Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño, Liberia, Costa Rica	Costa Rica	1–0	1–0	Friendly
3.	13 November 2015	Estádio Nacional de Ombaka, Benguela, Angola	Angola	3–1	3–1	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.	25 March 2017	Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa	Guinea-Bissau	3–1	3–1	Friendly
5.	5 September 2017	Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa	Cape Verde	1–2	1–2	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification