Ex-Al Ahly star says Pitso Mosimane better than current coach
Former Al Ahly and Zamalek star Ahmed Dowidar says Pitso Mosimane is better tactically than the current Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller.
Dowidar uttered these words after Al Ahly’s unconvincing win over lowly Mokawloon Al Arab SC on Sunday evening.
The former defender told KingFut website of Egypt that he feels Al Ahly have not been at their fluent best since Pitso Mosimane quit mid this year.
“I see that Al Ahly with Marcel Koller are yet to provide the best technical level, and in my opinion, Pitso Mosimane is better than Koller,” he said.
HOW PITSO MOSIMANE FARED AT AL AHLY
Pitso Mosimane spent a successful 21 months with Al Ahly, winning two CAF Champions League titles in three attempts.
He also bagged two FIFA Club World Cup bronze medals and other domestic titles before bowing out, citing pressure.
Mosimane is now in charge of Al Ahli Saudi SC in Saudi Arabia. Ricardo Soares replaced Mosimane, but the Portuguese did not last long as he was sacked.
Al Ahly hired the former Austria coach Koller who has yet to lose a game since he started his reign.
EX-AL AHLY STAR NOT IMPRESSED BY KOLLER
It is, therefore, interesting that Dowidar still feels the former Mamelodi Sundowns boss Mosimane was better than Koller.
Dowidar said he felt Al Ahly won the quarterfinal match on Sunday merely due to the fear factor they strike in opposition.
“The Contractors didn’t believe they could beat Al Ahly. The red shirt causes fear for the teams in Egypt,” he said.
“If the Contractors had the courage, they would have achieved an easy victory over Al Ahly.”
He said the minnows had a good chance of winning the game but lacked self-belief.
“The Arab Contractors were able to achieve victory if they had taken advantage of the chance presented to them in the first half through El-Shimy,” Dowidar added.
Al Ahly and Mokawloon Al Arab SC shared the spoils at 1-1 in regulation time of the quarterfinal meeting.
The game descended into extra time before the two teams were separated by the penalty lotteries.
Al Ahly were first to score through Karim Fouad in the 18th minute after receiving a well-measured cross in the box.
Koller’s men sought to hold on to their lead and thought they would cross the line.
AL AHLY NEEDED POST-MATCH PENALTIES TO GO THROUGH
However, Al Mokawloon snatched a late leveller through John Okoli’s close-range effort.
Penalties eventually broke the tie, with Al Ahly converting all their attempts, whereas Al Makawloon missed two attempts.
Yaser El Hanafi, Aliou Dieng, Mohamed Eldemerdash and Rami Rabia converted for Al Ahly.
Al Mokawloon Al Arabs scored from the spot through Joseph Ochaya, Amir Abed and Ahmed Eldin.
Omar Fayed and Forouck Kabore had their attempts saved by Al Ahly keeper El Shenawy.
The Koller side has since qualified for the semifinal of the Egyptian Super Cup, joining Smouha, Pyramids and Zamalek.
RELATED STORY: Pitso Mosimane’s naked ambition