By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has been handed a hefty fine by the Egyptian FA for his comments about the fixture list ahead of their crucial Caf Champions League quarter-final first leg clash against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Speaking after their draw against fierce rivals Zamalek on Monday, Mosimane was unhappy that they had two big games so close to each other.
“They [Sundowns] are resting and we are playing. If it were my way because Ahly is the only team playing in the Caf Champions League representing Egypt, we would protect Ahly and not play a game of the magnitude of Zamalek, especially when Sundowns are putting games ahead and getting rest,” Mosimane said ahead of the game against his former team.
The Egyptian FA has subsequently fined Mosimane 20 thousand Egyptian pounds (R17 990) for his controversial comments in a press conference.
During his eight-year stint with Sundowns, between 2012 and 2020, he won five league titles, two Nedbank Cups, two Telkom Knockout cups, the CAF Champions League, and CAF Super Cup.
However, before becoming a household name, Mosimane started his coaching career in 2001 with SuperSport United.
After struggling in his first year and finishing eighth on the league table, Mosimane quickly turned things around and became a regular competitor for the league title.
In his remaining six seasons, the 53-year-old finished second twice, third, fourth, seventh, and finally sixth. He also managed to win two cup trophies, the 2005 Nedbank Cup and the 2004 SAA Super Eight Cup, before being appointed as a manager for the South Africa national team.
During his time with the Matsatsantsa, Mosimane faced his future employers on 18 occasions across several domestic competitions. As he now prepares to face them in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals as Al Ahly’s head coach, we take a look at his record against the Brazillians.
Mosimane went unbeaten against Sundowns in their first four encounters [two draws and two wins] and in overall 14 league matches he has quite a balanced record with five wins, four draws, and five defeats.
He also went up against them on five occasions in different cups. In 2002 his side was knocked-out of the MTN Cup semi-finals and again the following year in the round of 16.
Mosimane finally got his revenge in 2005 when they beat Sundowns in the quarter-finals of the South African Cup and then the semis of the MTN 8 Cup, in what turned out to be an eventful season as they won both trophies.
Their final encounter in a knock-out tournament came in 2006 in the semi-finals of the MTN 8 Cup and Mosimane came out on top, before losing in the final to Kaizer Chiefs.
Overall, Mosimane has faced his former side on 19 occasions and has had a slight upper hand for the majority of the games, winning eight, losing seven, and drawing four.
The Al Ahly fans will hope he can keep up this record when they face them twice in the Champions League on May 15 in Cairo and May 22 at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.