‘Homeboy’ Jali to cut into Chippa’s big Eastern Cape divide? | Kickoff

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 22: Andile Jali, captain of Swallows FC during the Carling Knockout match between Richards Bay and Moroka Swallows at King Zwelithini Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)

Former Bush Bucks star Mongi Rula hopes the impending signing of Andile Jali by Chippa United will fill a gap he says exists between the club and the people of the Eastern Cape.

Rula, an Eastern Cape and Bush Bucks legend, outlines where Chippa are falling short in terms of emulating Imbabala.

The former midfield general says some years after the Siviwe Mpengesi-owned club moved from Cape Town to the Eastern Cape, they are still struggling to win the hearts of the people of the province.

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While Bush Bucks used to compete for trophies and even won one, in the Coca Cola Cup, it is a different case with the Chilli Boys, though to their credit, they did reach the final of the Nedbank Cup in 2020/21, eventually losing to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila. 

“The level of football clubs from the Eastern Cape province has dropped compared to our time,” Rula says, exclusively speaking to KickOff.

“Eastern Cape is a huge province. ‘Chippa’ Mpengesi is doing his own thing up there, and not doing any campaigns in the communities to attract fans. On the eve of every home match, he should be campaigning.

“They are not communicating enough with their fans. Bush Bucks had fans everywhere, some were even based in places like Jo’burg.

“To me, the people of Eastern Cape are not ‘feeling’ Chippa United. For people to be attached to a team, they want to see at least one player from their community in that team.

“I’m from the Eastern Region of the Eastern Cape, but every time I played for Bush Bucks in Mthatha, people from my region would fill buses and taxis to come and watch one of their own playing.

“Maybe Andile Jali’s signing will make a difference, maybe it will bring the people of this province closer to the club.

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“It’s just a matter of whether Jali can cope with the Eastern Cape lifestyle after spending so much time in Gauteng. Let’s wait and see,” adds Rula.