Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane has denied beating Al Hilal will determine his long-term future at the Egyptian giants ahead of the bronze medal FIFA Club World Cup clash on Saturday.
Mosimane has been involved in a long protracted contract extension talks with the club he’s been with for 15 months – about extending his original two-year deal.
Having won two CAF Champions League titles, the Egypt Cup and a bronze medal in the Club World Cup last year – the Red Devils hierarchy are keen to reward the South African for his efforts.
However, there’s been contrasting news about the deal, with reports in Egypt suggesting the club are awaiting Mosimane’s camp for an answer to an offer – while his agency MT Sports suggested it was the opposite.
But ahead of facing the AFC giants, the three-time CAF Champions League-winning coach was keen to play down the notion that his future is in the balance over the game against Leonardo Jardim’s highly-rated outfit.
“We’re not in football because of the contract, we’re in football because we love the game, we’re in football because of the work,” he said in the post-match press conference.
“The work determines all those things, you need to focus on the process, the process of the job is to win and do your best at all times.
“So if that determines that I don’t agree with that. I think Al Ahly is a big team, they know what to do – I’m not the biggest coach that ever coached Al Ahly.
“I’m just humbled to have the opportunity that I’m the coach of Al Ahly and I focus on the process and those things come after the work. If you start to look at life differently and contract, you playing yourself under pressure.
“You play differently because your focus is on other things, we have to be honest, we’re in football. I’ve been in football for 21 years – so why should I worry if I’m in football for a 22nd year? I will be in football for the 22nd year, you know that yourself.”
The Club of the Century will face the Saudi Arabian side at the Al Nahyan Stadium at 15h00 (GMT+2).
Story by Lorenz Kohler (@Lorenz_KO), who reports from the Club World Cup thanks to World Sports Betting.
