Al Ahly president Mahmoud El Khatib has finally revealed events leading to coach Pitso Mosimane’s resignation from the Egyptian team, saying he had complained of being tired physically and psychologically.
Khatib told Al Ahly TV they had wanted the South African to continue with his job, but he declined due to demands of playing games every three days.
“He was in Morocco attending a training programme, and we spoke to him and asked him to explain to us the support he needs for the league, but we were completely blindsided when he told us that he was, physically and psychologically, unable to continue as the team’s head coach,” Kingfut quotes the president saying.
“We gave him 24 hours to think about his decision and after that period he decided to part ways with us in the end.”
Khatib further complained of bad publicity towards the team, suggesting that there were some quarters who continued to champion an anti-Mosimane campaign.
“By numbers and achievements, Mosimane made history in this club that nobody can deny it, but who was leading the campaign that was directed against him?” he said.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns mentor won two CAF Champions League titles and two Club World Cup bronze medals in his 21-month stay in Cairo, but was the subject of intense criticism from Al Ahly legends including Wael Goma.
Khatib said management had noted that the team was lacking motivation possibly due to playing too many games within a short period of time.
“We were expecting a drop in the team’s performance. We found it very difficult to create new motivations for the players after playing every possible game in three successive seasons without any kind of a rest,” he said.
The president said this after his board of directors on Friday resolved that youth team and fringe players should finish the rest of the league games to offer regulars a chance to rest.
Al Ahly management further decided that the team should boycott remaining cup games due to poor officiation in the domestic league games.
The Reds have drawn in recent back-to-back games in the Egyptian Premier League and the title is now beyond their reach as leaders Zamalek are 10 points clear.
Al Ahly are on third place on the log table with a game in hand over Zamalek. Al Ahly face Ittihad FC this Sunday evening.
The recent results have cast doubt on the future of the club’s coach Ricardo Soares who replaced Mosimane two months ago.
Mosimane resigned in June saying he wanted to take a break from the pressure of coaching the continent’s biggest club.
The South African threw in the towel after losing the CAF Champions League final to Wydad Athletic 2-0.
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