Coach Pitso Mosimane’s first game in charge of Al Ahli ended in a one-all draw with Jeddah FC on Wednesday evening.
The Saudi Arabia second-tier league match took place at King Abdulla Sports City, which is Al Ahli’s home venue.
Jeddah had to come from behind to level matters and deny the former Al Ahly coach Mosimane a winning start to the job.
Haitham Asiri put Al Ahli ahead with a 26th-minute finish as the hosts led 1-0 at half-time.
However, Jeddah found their way back into the contest as they scored late in the game.
POST-MATCH REACTION
In a post-match interview, Mosimane told the press in Saudi Arabia that his side did not take its chances.
“The team did not take advantage of four opportunities to score. The goal of the Jeddah team was from only one chance in the match. It is not possible to change everything in the team in just two days,” he is quoted saying.
Mosimane arrived in Jeddah on Monday and hit the ground running to conduct his first training session.
In a pre-match interview, he made it clear he would not tamper with the squad that had won the previous game 3-0.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League-winning coach admitted that Al Ahli’s relegation last season had led to the exit of many quality players.
He insisted that there was still quality to see the team through to promotion.
The former Bafana Bafana coach stunned the football world when he ignored big offers from top teams to accept the overtures of the second-tier league in Saudi Arabia.
Mosimane insisted that he could have joined a big team, but he was not only about coaching but also going for the right football project.
Interim coach Youssef was in charge of Al Ahli while waiting for the South African’s arrival.
PROMOTION TASK
Mosimane has been tasked with taking Al Ahli back to the Saudi Arabia Pro League.
Al Ahli remain in position seven on the log table with nine points from six games.
The draw also took Jedda’s tally to nine points from six games, with goal difference the only thing separating the two teams.
Al Akhodoud are dictating matters at the top of the 18-member log table with 15 points from six games.
Al Ain anchors the log table with a paltry two points collected from six games.
