Pitso wants to stay and win more
THE story of Pitso Mosimane and Mamelodi Sundowns seems like the stuff of fiction in the context of South African football where coaches get fired for things like losing in a cup final or failing to dominate a derby match.
But Mosimane has achieved quite a unique feat by keeping the job of head coach at Sundowns for seven years. In that spell he has won almost every domestic competition on offer with the exception of the eight-club MTN8 tournament. Such an achievement is rare and it’s safe to say it has no parallel in the history of the Premiership in the country.
You would imagine that the wily coach has done it all and would want to step back to protect his solid record when his contract ends this June. But Mosimane is quite happy to stay on and not make new demands that match his decorated CV at the PSL champions.
In an interview with Independent Media, Mosimane made it clear that he harboured no ambition to take on a different challenge at another club, nor is he interested in more lucrative monetary benefits.
The meticulous manager has been with the Brazilians since taking over the coaching reins from Dutch legend Johan Neeskens back in 2012.
His current deal with Sundowns is up for renewal in two months and he is yet to ink a new contract. He insists he is not coaching Sundowns to become rich.
“I’ve never come out and asked for extra money. I never said I would not sign my contract because I want a raise on my salary. I don’t do that because
I won a cup against Maritzburg United. I’m seven years at the club and I don’t do that. I don’t ask for loans. I don’t take advantage of the wealth that our president (Patrice Motsepe) has created and then I start to ask for personal favours. I’ve been a gentleman and I stick to my contract and I finish my contract,” Mosimane said when asked what he would like to see in his new deal with the Chloorkop side.
Mosimane has turned Sundowns into a well-oiled machine in South African football. Winning silverware has become the bread and butter for the Brazilians. They are a dominant force and have fought and achieved recognition among African giants such as Al Ahly and Zamalek of Egypt, Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Esperance of Tunisia, to name but a few.
But Mosimane says all this success under his belt gives him no right to make financial demands.
“I don’t come and say I have a better offer there, can I go? The team knows that I’ve had better offers but I never left. I don’t want to talk about success, I’m still here. I would never want someone to do my work. Why would I want that? I’ve worked hard for what I achieved. Why should I give to somebody else,” he asked.
As Sundowns coach, Mosimane, whose career as a player started at Jomo Cosmos, boasts four league triumphs, a CAF Champions League, a CAF Super Cup, two Telkom Knockouts and the Nedbank Cup crown on his list of accomplishments. What Mosimane has attained at Sundowns is unprecedented and he is adamant this success will continue because he is hungry for more.
“I remain positive. I want to stay at Sundowns. I don’t take it for granted that I’ve contributed to get where we are now. I’m humble enough to say I want to stay at Sundowns,” Mosimane insisted.
Jingles, as he is affectionately known, still wants to create more good memories at Sundowns.
“I want to stay at Sundowns but someone will say, ‘why is he begging to stay at Sundowns?’ No, no, I stay because I want to stay. I know what is right for me. I don’t look at what I’ve done. I don’t hold a gun to the club and say, ‘look at what I’ve done’. No, that’s not my part. I want to stay and I feel loved at Sundowns. I never had a problem with my contract at Sundowns from the board, management and our president Patrice Motsepe. I’ve never had the challenges,” Mosimane said.