Pitso's absence to be felt in SA football circles

The resignation of Pitso Mosimane as Mamelodi Sundowns coach was the biggest sport news in the country this week as it not only took fans by surprise but the club itself.

In the recent past Mosimane has been synonymous with Sundowns on many fronts and to see him coaching another club than the Tshwane giants is unfathomable.

Since his breakthrough as head coach of Super Sport United in 2001, Mosimane s stock has risen to dizzy ’ heights.

Admittedly his time with Bafana Bafana was not so rosy. And we cannot blame him as most of his predecessors, and those who came after him, have also found handling the national team a huge challenge.

When he joined Sundowns in 2012, the Brazilians had gone for five years without any silverware and within 18 months Mosimane had turned their fortunes around.

His record has prompted others to call for his return to the national team, which has always been unlikely taking into account some basic fundamentals that have led to his success.

Mosimane wants to be his own boss. At Sundowns he enjoyed that privilege including recruiting the players deemed best though — admittedly there was discontent within the club s administration with ’ that approach.

It was some of these nuts and bolts that resulted in the renewal of his contract spilling over into the public domain.

Whether that played a part in his decision to tender his resignation remains to be seen, though he keeps saying he was inspired by his desire to grow as a coach and step out of the comfort zone he has enjoyed at Sundowns.

If he wants a challenge, he will certainly get it in abundance at Al Ahly. At the Egyptian giants he cannot expect to be given 18 months before he delivers his first silverware.

In SA, Mosimane had a privilege of knowing most local players and hence it was relatively easy to sign them. He will not enjoy that privilege in Egypt. He may be tempted to take with him some of the Sundowns stars.

If that happens, there lies his first challenge as the Egyptians pride themselves on using their own homegrown talent.

Regardless of how his future pans out in the land of Pharaohs, Mosimane s larger-than-life character ’ will be solely missed in SA football circles. His mind games had become a common feature at press conferences.

It remains to be seen if he can continue with that approach in Egypt where the cultural set-up is totally different. We can only wish him all the best as his success will have farreaching implications for SA football.

Mosimane knows most of the local players... If he wants a challenge, he will certainly get it in abundance at Al Ahly