Al Ahli Jeddah coach Pitso Mosimane will face a former Kaizer Chiefs coach in his next assignment in Saudi Arabia.
Mosimane is currently at the top of the Saudi second-tier league table. Mosimane’s Al Ahli sit at the apex of the table after amassing 58 points, just two ahead of second-placed Al Akhdoud.
PITSO MOSIMANE’S AHLI HAS A DATE WITH GIOVANNI SOLINAS’ AL FAISALY
They have a date with Al Faisaly, who are now under the guidance of former Free State Stars and Amakhosi coach Giovanni Solinas.
Ahli are at home to Faisaly on Saturday, 15 April 2023, at 21h00 [South African time] in a must-win encounter for both sides.
Giovanni Solinas reunited with the Saudi outfit in his third stint with the club last month. The Italian signed a deal that will keep him at the club until the end of the season before they consider his future with them.
Following a five-game winless streak, the club axed Greek coach Marinos Ouzounidis and replaced him with Solinas.
Interestingly, the 54-year-old will be looking for his first win since taking charge against Mosimane’s team.
Having coached in the PSL in 2018, Solinas would be familiar with Mosimane, who was at the helm of Mamelodi Sundowns at the time.
Solinas will be eager to get Faisaly back to winning ways at the expense of Mosimane’s charges. A win on Saturday will almost put him on course for promotion to the topflight.
In general, Faisaly would want to bounce back to winning ways to stay on track for promotion to the topflight. The last time they won a league game was on February 2, 2023 when they beat Al Jabalain 2-1.
Since then, they have lost four games and drawn twice.
GUIDE THE TEAM TO THE TOPFLIGHT
They are in fifth place on the 18-team log with 43 points, 10 behind fourth-placed Al Riyadh. However, Solinas’ side have two games in hand. They could reduce the lead to four points if they win the two games in hand.
For Solinas to guide his team to the topflight, where Cristiano Ronaldo turns out for Al Nassr, he will have to guide them to a top-four finish.
A place in the top four guarantees them automatic promotion. With eight games to go before the curtain comes down on the 2022/23 season, there is still time.
Solinas’ first spell in South Africa was in December 2015, when he joined the now-defunct Free State Stars.
A year later, he left the club after his contract was terminated. He joined Faisaly a few months later, helping them survive relegation.
He joined Chiefs at the start of the 2018/19 season but was fired halfway through on December 7, 2018.
After a stint in Tunisia with CS Sfaxien, Solinas is back in Saudi after he was appointed coach last month.
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