Mamelodi Sundowns release statement on Pitso Masimane amid Al Ahly transfer
Mamelodi Sundowns have issued a statement approving and supporting the departure of head coach Pitso Mosimane for a top Egyptian club.
The statement by the president of Mamelodi Sundowns, Patrice Motsepe, reads as follows:
‘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.
‘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.
‘Mamelodi Sundowns will make announcements in due course concerning the new head coach and other changes that we are introducing. Sundowns has over the years developed and trained very good local coaches and has a strong Technical Team.
‘Jose Ramon Alexanko will continue in his current role as Technical Director and will carry on with the good work that he is doing at the Academy. Sundowns will focus on preparing for the upcoming season and is ready to compete in South Africa, Africa and globally.’
Sundonws’ statement on Wednesday afternoon make strong connection with reports linking Mosimane to Al Ahly’s coaching job.
The Egyptian giants could loss Rene Weiler at the end of this Egyptian Premier League season after the Swiss manager stating he will review his Ahly contract at the end of 2019/2020 term.
Weiler’s relationship with Al Ahly board has been shaky the past weeks as the Swiss is looking to leave the club sooner than expected.
The club confirmed that an official announcement regarding the Swiss’ future will be made next Thursday October 1st. They also made sure to deny having started negotiations with a potential replacement.
According to Belgian news outlet, Voetbal24, Weiler could return to the Jupiler League if he is to leave Cairo.
The 47-year-old could potentially take over the vacant managerial role at Gent, who failed to qualify for the 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League stages due to 5-1 on aggregate defeat in hands of Dynamo Kyiv in the final play-off round.
The Cairo based side measure Mosimane as the perfect man to replace Weiler if the Swiss finally leaves Cairo. And the former’s resignation from Downs’ post has all but increase speculations linking the South African trainer to the Ahly job.
It’s reckoned that Ahly have been tracking Mosimane since he led his Mamelodi Sundowns side to thrash Ahly 5-0 in last season’s CAF Champions League.
This season, despite Ahly overcoming Mamelodi Sundowns in quarter finals of the Champions League, the Reds did that in a very difficult games against Mosimane’s side where the Egyptians advanced 3-1 to the Semifinals of the competition.
After the second leg game that ended 1-1 in South Africa, Ahly contacted Mosimane over his availability before turning down the chance to join the North African side.
Ahly however never ended their interest in the former Sundowns boss and decided to prize Gaston Sirino– who was the main ingredient to Mosimane’s success at Downs- away from Gauteng in a bid to unsettle passionate Mosimane in the PSL.
However, the 2019/2020 PSL champions rejected Ahly’s offer to land Sirino last three months ago. But with the South African trainer resigning at Downs, Mosimane could the sooner to arrive at Ahly than Sirino who was considered a trap by Ahly to land Mosimane.
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