Mamelodi Sundowns co-head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has insisted Pitso Mosimane was cheated by FIFA over his snub for The Best Men’s Coach of the Year.
This year’s award was won by Thomas Tuchel after he lifted the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea.
However, many around the world and in particular in Africa have questioned why Mosimane didn’t at least make the seven-man shortlist for his achievements with Al Ahly.
Mngqithi has now shared the same sentiment and expressed his pride that a fellow South African coach is representing Mzansi at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
“We are very happy as South African coaches to have one of our ambassadors representing us at that stage and showing the world what he is capable of,” he said.
“Even now if we’re honest to ourselves, he’s been cheated by FIFA not to be given the Coach of the Season award, if you consider the amount of continental trophies that he won in one year.
“Maybe because he’s African, maybe because he’s coming from this continent he doesn’t deserve to get the credit he deserves. It’s difficult for one to win two Champions League and Super Cup in one year and still not be selected to be the Coach of the Season.
“But we have to respect those decisions because we Africans, we are humble, we are not arrogant but the truth of the matter is, if we were to look at the balance of everything, he should have been the one to take that award and it would have been great for South Africa.
“Maybe now he’s getting another chance to go to the Club World Cup and show the quality he can bring to the world.”
Mosimane and Al Ahly face CONCACAF champions Monterrey in the second round on Saturday, 4 February, but it seems the South African will not be on the sidelines after testing positive for Covid-19.
