Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane. Photo: Archives
STAYING: Mosimane breaks silence on future with Al Ahly!
Coach Pitso Mosimane has provided clear insight into his future at Al Ahly amidst recent rumours that new contract talks had stalled.
Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane. Photo: Archives
Last week, Pitso Mosimane’s agent Moira Thlagale, who is also his wife, posted a picture on social media showing her arriving in Cairo, which has added fuel to speculation that the popular coach could finally conclude negotiations with Al Ahly.
Mosimane has lifted five trophies with Al Ahly, but has yet to put pen to paper on a new deal with the Egyptian powerhouse club as negotiations appeared to have somewhat stalled in recent times as he entered the final six months of his current contract.
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Now, speaking to MBC Egypt, Mosimane hailed the club’s president Mohamed ‘Bibo’ El-Khatib for bringing him to Egypt, and confirmed he will ‘stay’ at the club.
“Mahmoud El-Khatib [Al-Ahly’s president] did something unexpected after many European coaches in Al Ahly went to a coach in South Africa,” he said.
“He told me that you could change the history of Al Ahly. Not many people knew me, they know me from playing against Ahly and Zamalek [with Sundowns].
“But I don’t come with the big European CV, but they knew I won the CAF Super Cup, Champions League and gone to the Club World Cup.
“He took a very big risk on me, he rewarded me and gave me a big opportunity and that’s why I’m still here. I know there were talks, but I’m here and I will be here and I will stay here.
“So I’m humbled to be able to coach a big team. I want to leave small footprints after the big footprints that Manuel Jose left at the club.”
The former Bafana Bafana caretaker coach has previously stated he would like his contract situation to be resolved before the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, but some reports then suggested Al Ahly bosses had not taken kindly to these public proclamations.
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As the waiting game continued, there have been links to the Senegal national team job, while Kuwaiti news outlet Al-Anba even reported that Qatar Stars League outfit Al-Rayyan SC could approach the South African coach to replace Laurent Blanc.
However, it’s said that a new contract between Ahly and Mosimane could be announced in the near future.There have been reports that Mosimane could be looking at a new three-year deal worth $200 000 a month.
Pitso has received timely support
Despite growing frustration over the stalled contract talks, Al Ahly sporting director Sayed Abdelhafiz this week came out in praise of Mosimane, even though he could not confirm if an agreement between the two parties would be found.
“Al Ahly were very successful under Mosimane. Frankly, he deserves something great because he won a lot of titles,” he said, as per Kingfut.
“It’s true that the way Al Ahly is run helps any individual who comes to work here, but it’s important that Mosimane gets what he deserves.
“Al Ahly has a method and policy in negotiations. The two parties succeeded together, whether Mosimane continues with Al Ahly or not. There will certainly be a clear and explicit agreement that will be announced at the proper time.”
“According to his contract, whether he decides to continue or he leave he will remain until the end of the season.
“As for what is rumoured about his departure in the current period, it doesn’t make sense for us criticize something and then do it.
“The main takeaway is that Pitso achieved a lot with the club, whether he stays or not.”
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