By Velile Mnyandu in Douala, Cameroon
Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane’s agent Moira Thlagale has landed in Cairo, Egypt this morning and her arrival has also given credence to reports that the long and protracted contract renewal negotiations between the two parties, will be put to bed.
iDiski Times has established that a new contract between Ahly and Mosimane is in place and could be signed in the next few days, with some Egyptian media having also speculated last night that Thlagale’s imminent arrival was most likely to see the deal being concluded as she had been overseeing these negotiations.
Thlagale who is also Mosimane’s wife, landed in Cairo this morning and her presence this time around is expected to put the prolonged matter of the protracted negotiations to bed.
There have been reports that Mosimane wanted a new three-year deal worth $200 000 a month as he is currently reported to be earning around $140 000 a month. But another sticking point of these negotiations as it was the case earlier this year with the current contract, was a security cushion of six months and not three months as it was previously the case, if the two parties were to part ways.
In a recent press conference in Egypt, Mosimane made it known that he would like to see the renewal of his contract concluded before the FIFA Club World Cup gets underway in Qatar next Friday and his wish is seemingly about to be granted.
Mosimane, whose two-year contract with Ahly expires at the end of this season, has won a total of five trophies in this short period with the record 10 times African champions, including two CAF Champions League titles, a trophy that had eluded the Red Devils for seven years before the South African born coach arrived.
He’s also won the CAF Super Cup twice and next week would be playing in his second FIFA Club World Cup with Ahly and his third overall, having been there before with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016.
The move by Ahly to finally seal the deal with Mosimane, does not come as a surprise as the former Bafana Bafana head coach has been linked with several national team head coaching jobs in Africa, especially in the wake up of some early exits and performances in the African Cup of Nations and with some crucial FIFA 2022 World Cup last round of qualifiers still to come in March.
On Tuesday, it was also reported that Qatar club Al-Rayyan SC is interested in Mosimane’s services if his contract with Ahly was not renewed and they were among many of other teams in the Gulf region to have expressed their interest in the 57-year-old.
But Mosimane had also been clear that he has no intentions of leaving one of the biggest football clubs in the world as he aims for a straight hat-trick of continental success with them this season and his latest social media posts, suggests that too.
Story by Velile Mnyandu (@Velile_Mnyandu).
