Story by Lorenz Köhler in Abu Dhabi for the FIFA Club World Cup
Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane has revealed the message former Brazil and Bafana Bafana boss Carlos Alberto Parreira sent him ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup semi-final.
Ahly are set to face the Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras for a place in the final of the prestigious event and the nation’s icon who selected Mosimane as his assistant during his stint with the South Africa national team reached out before the clash.
“Parreira sent me a message yesterday, congratulating me – I’m humbled,” Mosimane said the 1994 FIFA World Cup winner told him.
“We’re talking about the guy who’s won the World Cup, I mean what a big coach. For me to be mentioned by big names like Carlos Parreira, who was coaching Romario, Ronaldo Phenomenon – just mention all these big stars, Dunga and all them.
“He was also with Pele, you must know that because I know all the stories about Brazil because of getting them from Parreira. But look I’m humbled because he gave me a break in my life. I learned a lot from him, some of how I still play is the way he taught me.
“But when I said to him for the talk he said ‘no, no’, you know Parreira is always a humble man and he’s big, he doesn’t have to prove that he’s big – I mean how many World Cup’s has he won? But he said I always knew you would do it – that’s why I had you as my assistant all the time.
“I’m humbled, to be honest, I’ve worked with all these big coaches in the world and I’ve learnt a lot, I’ve come far in football, maybe some coaches don’t know me. I’ve come far, I’ve learnt a lot working with big coaches.”
Mosimane worked with the coach who holds the record of competing at six FIFA World Cups and Joel Santana at the helm of Bafana and went on to assume the role as head coach of the national team after their stints.
But after being sacked two years into his four-year contract, the former SuperSport United mentor went on to coach Mamelodi Sundowns – where he engraved himself into South African football folklore as arguably the greatest manager in Premier Soccer League history.
Eleven titles in eight years, which includes five league winners medals, the CAF Champions League and CAF Super Cup led him to be headhunted by the most successful club in Africa, Al Ahly, where he’s continued writing history.
In less than two years in charge, he’s secured consecutive Champions League crowns after the club had last won it seven years prior whilst becoming the first coach to secure back-to-back Club World Cup semi-finals in their already illustrious history.
Mosimane and his troops will face off against the two-time Libertadores winner Abel Ferreira on Tuesday evening for a place in the final where the winner will meet European champions Chelsea or Al Hilal, the Champions of Asia.
Story by Lorenz Kohler (@Lorenz_KO), who reports from the Club World Cup thanks to World Sports Betting.
