Coach Pitso Mosimane says he is ready for his Al Ahli Saudi FC debut in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday evening.
The former Al Ahly coach said this in a post-match press conference ahead of the second-tier league game between Al Ahli and Jeddah FC at King Abdulla Sports City.
“I have only two training sessions or one-and-a-half. We can’t do too much a day before the match. We have made a big analysis,” Mosimane told the press.
FARPost monitored the press conference via Al Ahli’s social media platforms.
READY FOR JEDDAH FC
Mosimane said he will not make wholesale changes to the squad, as the team is coming from a 3-0 win in the previous game.
“It is not going to be easy but we are at home…tomorrow’s game is just a continuation of what happened in the last game. We don’t want to change the team too much,” he said.
“How do you change a team that has just won 3-0? The team is good. What do you think about the team? What is your opinion? For me to know? I don’t need too much information about other teams. We just need technical information about Jeddah, which we know.”
SQUAD ANALYSIS
Mosimane said he analysed the squad before accepting the offer to coach Al Ahli.
“We watched the team even last year in the last two games before relegation to check the level and standard,” he said.
“We have lost too many players, but we still have good players. I checked the team before we signed the contract. I realise that we can take the team up. Even when we lost too many players, the team that is available is capable of taking the team back to the Premier League.”
LEARNING THE SAUDI ARABIA WAY
He admitted that he has little information about Asian football and the opponents Jeddah.
“I am prepared to learn about Saudi football. I started today. I watched the game that was played on Sunday …big game… few red cards…I am learning slowly,” he said.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns hailed interim coach Youssef who was in charge of Al Ahli
Mosimane has been tasked with earning Al Ahli promotion to Saudi Arabia Pro League.
Mosimane quit Egypt’s Al Ahly in June and went on a sabbatical before accepting the Saudi Arabia offer.
Al Ahli are in position seven and won their last game.
