Moroka Swallows lawyer sees no future for Andile Jali at the club

Moroka Swallows’ legal representative, Leruma Thobejane, expressed pessimism about Andile Jali’s potential return to the club.

The Dube Birds recently won the initial stage of their legal battle against the midfielder. Jali’s claim for unpaid wages and reinstatement was dismissed by the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) due to lack of urgency.

While Jali can appeal, Thobejane, speaking on Metro FM, believes the door has likely closed on a reconciliation. “No, I don’t see Andile back at Moroka Swallows,” Thobejane asserted. “He was dismissed following a disciplinary hearing. No player has the right to force their employment on Moroka Swallows.”

Jali’s case arose after he was released by the club for participating in a “protest action” in December, which led to the cancellation of two DStv Premiership matches. While other players involved were eventually reinstated, Jali’s case remains distinct.

“The parties [Jali and Swallows] did not reach an agreement,” Thobejane explained. “You can’t force someone to employ you. If you go straight to court instead of attempting to negotiate, even if negotiations fail, why resort to the DRC?” Thobejane maintains Jali chose the wrong approach in handling the situation. “Even if they disagreed after talking, you can’t force employment on someone.”

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“The key takeaway is that some dismissed players apologised without prompting,” he added. “Everyone can negotiate with their employer, but if the employer isn’t interested, why force it?” While the urgency of Jali’s claim was dismissed, it doesn’t necessarily negate its potential merits. Thobejane emphasised that Swallows are prepared to defend their position in court if necessary. 

MOROKA SWALLOWS TO START LIFE WITHOUT ANDILE JALI

Meanwhile, Swallows return to DStv Premiership action on Saturday when they take on Polokwane City at the Dobsonville Stadium. The Birds will have to navigate the second round of the season with a largely changed squad after several exits. They are currently in 11th place after 16 games and will need to pick points to climb up the ladder. The future of head coach Steve Khompela also remains unclear with Musa Nyatama likely to take charge of the team.