One of Egypt’s best ever footballers and arguably the greatest Al Ahly has ever produced has added his voice to the many praises on the club’s former coach, Pitso Mosimane – who recently guided Al Ahli Jeddah to promotion in the Saudi Pro league.
Pitso ‘Jingles’ Mosimane was appointed Al Ahli Jeddah’s manager last September with one mission; to secure promotion back to the Saudi Pro League at the first time of asking after facing their first-ever relegation at the end of last season.
After assembling his technical team (now famously known as the Dream Team) consisting of fitness manager Kabelo Rangoaga, performance analysis manager Musi Matlaba and performance analyst Kyle Solomon, Mosimane made his way to the Saudi Pro League where Al Ahli occupied seventh position after they had been relegated to the First Division for the first time in their history.
Fast forward eight months later and Jingles has elevated the side from Jeddah to the summit of the Saudi First Division, where they sit 15 points away from fifth-placed Al Faisaly with four games left to play.
Africa's best Coach.
— Big Fish🇺🇬 (@256_fisherman) May 4, 2023
Pitso Mosimane bags USD $10 million dollars for securing Al-Ahli's promotion to the Saudi Pro League.
They were 7th in the league when he was hired.
Mamelodi gave him a platform, & he proved to the world that he's good enough.
Believe in local coaches. pic.twitter.com/5weYObo7VY
Their win over Hajer last week ensured that Ahli couldn’t finish lower than fourth this season, confirming their return to the land of milk and honey.
The impressive turn-around in fortune for the club has prompted many footballing bodies, legends and fans to once again heap some praise on Mosimane, who is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best tacticians and Al Ahly’s most successful managers in recent years, as he guided the Red Devils to one Egypt Cup title, two CAF Champions League titles, two CAF Super Cup titles and two FIFA Club World Cup bronze medals in his two-season spell in Cairo.
Pitso Mosimane in 20 months at Al Ahly:
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) June 13, 2022
🏟️ 97 games*
✅ 65 wins
🔄 22 draws
❌ 10 defeats
🏆 5 trophies
‼️ 2.24 points per game
How shocked are you about his departure? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/RMzPIFRcWs
African legend and former Al Ahly midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika described him as one of the best ever coaches to sit on the bench of the Red Devils.
Mohamed Aboutrika says:
— Micky Jnr ✪ (@MickyJnr__) May 6, 2023
“Congratulations to Al Ahli for returning to the Saudi Pro League. Pitso Mosimane is one of the best coaches in Al Ahly’s history. Pitso’s results with Al Ahly and achievements were great. With Pitso in big matches, everyone was reassured of the team and… pic.twitter.com/4K3A7YXdsi
Aboutrika’s words came just days after FIFA gave Mosimane his flowers. Reports emerged that he was recently given a ‘shout-out’ by world football’s governing body for his work at the Egyptian giants, previously, and the miracle work he has pulled off in Saudi Arabia.
FIFA’s Arabic Twitter account released a video showering him with deserved praise and raising his profile even more worldwide.
💚🤲🏽💪🏿 https://t.co/D2Q6eRZkzD
— Pitso Mosimane (@TheRealPitso) May 4, 2023
Mosimane is now chasing another piece of silverware as he goes after the Saudi First Division League title with Ahli this season.
And while his side only have four games left to play, Al-Faisaly, coached by former Kaizer Chiefs coach, Giovanni Solinas, still have five games outstanding and could theoretically still draw level on points with Al Ahli.
For Mosimane’s side, their next assignment will be against Al-Arabi next Tuesday, and they will be desperate to take another big step towards the title.
