Pitso Mosimane effect: Ghanaian coach hails SA’s serial winner as role model
Former Ghana national team assistant coach Maxwell Konadu has opened up about how he gets inspired by his role model, Pitso Mosimane.
The Ghana Premier League-winning and ex-Asante Kotoko coach was recently appointed head coach of Motsepe Foundation Championship side Black Leopards.
Maxwell Konadu began his three-year tenure at the club last week at the Limpopo side ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The ex-Black Stars assistant coach comes into the country highly recommended after winning the league title with the Ghanaian giants Kotoko in 2012. He also took minnows Nsoatreman to their best-ever finish and won the FA Cup last season.
The 51-year-old speaks about how he has been following the former Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns tactician Mosimane’s coaching career over the years.
Mosimane’s trophy cabinet overflows with a testament to his two-decade coaching reign. Numerous PSL Coach of the Year awards, a 2016 CAF Coach of the Year accolade, and a remarkable ranking as the 10th best coach in the world for 2016 stand alongside a collection of gold medals.
He started by securing two trophies with SuperSport United. But his most prolific spell came with Sundowns, where he amassed a staggering 11 titles between 2012 and 2020. His winning ways continued at Egyptian giants Al Ahly, where he added five more trophies to his collection. In addition, Mosimane secured the Saudi Arabian First Division title with Al Ahli, further solidifying his reputation as a serial winner.
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“I respect Pitso [Mosimane] too much, and he has been my role model for some time,” Konadu told FARPost. “I chat with him sometimes and I have been following him a lot when he left for Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the rest.”
On whether Konadu took some advice from Mosimane before accepting the Leopard’s offer, he said, “That is my private issue. But he is such a top guy. I respect him, and I love him so much.”
Meanwhile, Konadu is also pleased that more African coaches are starting to be recognised, especially within the continent.
Former Orlando Pirates assistant coach Fadlu Davids recently took over as Simba SC’s head coach in the Tanzania Premier League, while Rulani Mokwena was named as Wydad Casablanca’s coach.
“I think Africa is beginning to realise that, with all due respect to everybody, it’s a small world,” he said.
“We travel around the globe, and we see how the top managers handle issues. We have learnt a lot. So, I am not surprised that African coaches are also moving, especially the black coaches.
“We are also there now and we can at least handle most of our problems and our issues. We understand it better so I think it’s time the Black ones so well and must be respected.”
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