Pitso Mosimane no longer appears to be the most sought-after coach in Africa after experiencing unsuccessful stints in the Middle East.
For half a decade, “Jingles” was celebrated as the best coach to emerge from Africa.
His eight years at Mamelodi Sundowns saw him lead the club to over ten trophies, making them one of the top teams on the continent.
Mosimane made history by becoming the first South African coach to win both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Super Cup, achieving this success with Sundowns in 2016 and 2017.
After leading the Brazilians to a domestic treble in 2020, he joined Al Ahly later that year. During his time with the Red Devils, he won the CAF Champions League twice, solidifying his reputation as one of the most successful coaches in the competition’s history.
Pitso Mosimane was unmatched between 2016 and 2022
Following two successful years in Egypt, Mosimane moved to Saudi Arabia to coach Al Ahli in September 2022. After guiding the club to promotion, he resigned, claiming he and his technical staff had not been paid since January 2023.
Shortly after, Mosimane took over at Al Wahda and then at Abha but failed to prevent the latter from relegation.
In October of last year, he was appointed as head coach of the Iranian club Esteghlal in the Persian Gulf Pro League. Unfortunately, poor results led to his dismissal once again.
Is Pitso Mosimane destroying his legacy?
When Mosimane left Sundowns, he was undoubtedly the best coach in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), having transformed the Tshwane giants.
His achievements at Al Ahly, where he won the Champions League twice and dominated the domestic league, further cemented his status.
Pitso Mosimane’s move to Saudi Arabia was perceived as a positive step, given the growing popularity of the league. After successfully guiding Al Ahli into the Saudi Pro League, many felt he deserved to coach at a higher level within the league.
He was faced with the challenging task of saving Abha but ultimately failed, resulting in the club’s relegation on the last day of the season.
His subsequent move to Iran has severely impacted his momentum, making it seem unlikely that Mosimane will coach in Europe or return to the Saudi Pro League.
While he remains the best coach to come out of South Africa, his recent decisions appear to have been driven primarily by financial considerations.
Since leaving Iran, Pitso Mosimane has not coached another team. At 61, he can still coach at the highest level but it remains unlikely that he will be on the touchline at a FIFA Club World Cup or Saudi Pro League.
