PITSO Mosimane has resigned as head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns just few weeks after winning his fifth Premier Soccer League (PSL) title with the club.
Mosimane is said to be headed to the Egyptian giants Al Ahly where is set to succeed Rene Weiler, according to sources at Chloorkop.
Mamelodi Sundowns president Patrice Motsepe released an official statement on Wednesday confirming Mosimane’s move to the “Red Devils”, one of the richest football clubs in the African continent.
“Pitso Mosimane and his agent Moira Tlhagale, who is also his wife, came to brief me on the discussions between Pitso Mosimane and a top Egyptian club. Sundowns has been aware of the ongoing discussions between Pitso Mosimane and the Egyptian club and with other North African clubs. I have on several occasions over the past few years expressed my support for Pitso Mosimane leaving Sundowns to coach in North Africa or Europe or Bafana Bafana. Football players and coaches have at times an uncertain and inconsistent future and must pursue new opportunities where they may grow and receive greater remuneration,” said Motsepe in a statement.
“I have received a warm and emotional note from Pitso and am very proud of his achievements at Mamelodi Sundowns. Pitso has been the most successful coach in the history of Sundowns and will always be a member of the Mamelodi Sundowns Family. I wish him, Moira and his family everything of the very best and I hope to see him coaching in Europe soon.”
Sundowns sources told Inside Politics that Motsepe had a prior engagement with Mosimane about his negotiations with the Egyptian giants and he gave him his blessings.
“Whoever thought Egyptians will come and look for a football coach in South Africa? This is a proud moment to Mamelodi Sundowns and the President. It’s a South African story of achievement. Mosimane is a product of South African football history. Here’s the son of the soil becoming the first ever South African to be appointed by the Egyptian giants Al Ahly,” said the source.
“It was given that no other club can afford him in SA. We gave him over R1.5 million a month at Mamelodi Sundowns. His next move was always going to be somewhere in the African continent or Europe.”
Mosimane is the only South African coach to win both the Caf Champions League and Caf Super Cup – this was when Sundowns dominated African football in 2016 and 2017.
Mosimane has also won 11 major trophies with the Chloorkop-based outfit during his eight-year stay.
READ MOSIMANE’S RESIGNATION STATEMENT HERE:
The news of his departure was greeted with shock on Wednesday because Mosimane recently committed his future to the Brazilians after signing a new four-year deal.
Prior to signing the deal, the former Bafana Bafana mentor revealed he had offers from North African teams, some of which Sundowns played against in the Caf Champions League.
However, he vowed to stay at Sundowns for as long as possible and his reasons were that he ‘loves the club and the supporters loved him’.
It is understood that Al Ahly are willing to pay compensation for Sundowns to release Mosimane from his contract.
This means only Manqoba Mngqithi would be the only man left from the three-man technical team.
A Gauteng-based commercial radio station revealed that Jose Ramon Alesanco is Motsepe’s preferred choice to take over from Mosimane with Mngqithi as his assistant.
Motsepe said in a statement that Mamelodi Sundowns will make announcements in due course concerning the new head coach.
Alesanco will continue in his current role as Technical Director.
(COMPILED BY INSIDE POLITICS STAFF)
