It was a mistake appointing Pisto Mosimane as head coach – Former Al Ahly MD Mohsen Saleh

A former Managing Director of Sport at Al Ahly SC, Mohsen Saleh, has leveled sharp criticism at Pitso MosimanePitso Mosimane, claiming the South African coach was undeserving of the Cairo club’s top job, despite his trophy-laden spell.

Mosimane, who led Al Ahly for nearly two years, secured two CAF Champions League titles, two CAF Super Cups, and an Egyptian Cup, among other honours.

But Saleh, himself a seasoned coach, insisted Mosimane was not the right fit for the historic Egyptian side. Speaking to Al-NaharAl-Nahar TV via Al7lm NewsAl7lm News, Saleh said:

“I was one of the strongest opponents of Mosimane as Al Ahly’s coach,” Saleh said in statements via Al-Nahar channel, per Al7lm News.

“I did not believe that a technical director from Africa, whether from Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco or Sudan, should coach Al Ahly, as Al Ahly is bigger than all the coaches working in this region.

“I still strongly believe that Mosimane did not deserve to coach Al Ahly.

“Mosimane travelled for a vacation, then went to Morocco to conduct a training course, and then returned to South Africa and the team prepared for a match.

Saleh recounted an incident where Mosimane left for a vacation, traveled to Morocco for a training course, and then returned to South Africa while Al Ahly prepared for an important match.

“Al-Khatib (President of Al Ahly) held a meeting with the football company and the planning committee, and there was a video call with Mosimane.

“We asked him to come to Egypt to play the matches, but he told us that he was sick. He felt that we were going to make a decision to dismiss him, and his response was quick: we can terminate the contract amicably, there is no problem,” he added.

“Al-Khatib decided that the football company, along with Hossam Ghaly, would take responsibility for finding a new technical director, and they signed the contract with [Ricardo] Soares.”

Mosimane, previously at Mamelodi Sundowns FC and most recently with Al Ahli Saudi FC, is currently without a club.