Although Pitso Mosimane had just penned a new two-year deal with Egyptian giants Al Ahly earlier this year, he dramatically requested clearance to leave the club. Mosimane enjoyed a famed coaching career with Mamelodi Sundowns, and was involved as national caretaker coach for seven games in 2007. He went on to join Al Ahly in…
a high-profile move, and won several title in Egypt before prematurely opting out of his new contract.
The popular coach in fact oversaw 105 fixtures at Al Ahly, winning 68 matches, drawing 27 and only suffering 10 defeats.
Al Ahly chairman Mahmoud El-Khatib has now admitted they were left shocked by the decision, while also hinting that there was a “campaign” against Mosimane, which may be in reference to widespread criticism that the coach received from certain individual towards the end of his tenure.
“Pitso Mosimane has achieved history that no one can deny, and the numbers prove it, but who is responsible for the campaign against him?” El-Khatib said, as quoted by KingFut.“He was in Morocco attending a training programme, and we spoke to him and asked him to explain to us the support he needs for the league. But we were completely blindsided when he told us that he was, physically and psychologically, unable to continue as the team’s head coach.“We gave him 24 hours to think about his decision and after that period he decided to part ways with us in the end.”
With some club legends and others from within the club also questioning Mosimane at times, Khatib asked: “Who was leading the campaign that was directed against him?
Pitso Mosimane is taking a ‘break’ from frontline coaching
“I’m happy to wake up at 11AM, and I’m happy that I’m not accountable to anybody at this point in time. I’ll get back to coaching when I feel like I want to go back,” Mosimane said on Kaya959, as quoted by MSN.“Sometimes you have to take a step back. Big coaches like Pep Guardiola have done that. Carlo Ancelotti has done that. Zinedine Zidane has done that. He won three Champions League titles, but he’s not coaching now.“It was a difficult decision to make. I left voluntarily. It was a shock to everyone at the club, but I just felt it was the time to leave. I renewed my contract last year, and I thought I would stay longer, but every good thing comes to an end.”
Mosimane has interestingly recently commented on social media to suggest his reasons for returning to South Africa were primarily due to family reasons.
“Al Ahly did not fire me or push me to go. I have big respect for President Khatib and the entire board including all the supporters of Al Ahly. I will always cherish all our trophy celebrations,” Pitso commented on Twitter.“I have memories & archived (banners, chants of me at the stadiums). Unfortunately I decided to come home, (because) I needed this rest with my family. You now have an experienced European coach. Everybody should support and I believe he will leave the jersey at a higher place than he got it.”
I have memories & archived (banners,chants of me at the stadiums). Unfortunately I decided to come home,I needed this rest with my family.You now have an experienced European Coach,everybody should support and I believe he will leave the jersey at a higher place than he got it.— Pitso Mosimane (@TheRealPitso) July 4, 2022
