Pitso Mosimane says his issues with Victor Gomes is in the past and lauded him as the best referee in Africa who should be heading to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Gomes has been widely acclaimed over the past few years on the conitnent and was rewarded the Africa Cup of Nations final alongside fellow South African assitant referee Zakhele Siwela.
Their performances has raised their status amongst the elite officials since Mosimane has left local football for a move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
But during his time in the Premier Soccer League Mosimane notably had several moments of discontent with Gomes – which he put down to emotional reactions after losing games.
“We’ve gone through teething stages which is normal in football and you know especially me when I lose I’m not a nice guy,” he said via Safja on Wednesday afternoon.
“He understands that, it’s okay I hate losing. I always hear people say Pitso is a bad loser, who’s a good loser? I mean really, that coach that loses and is smiling on tv – so that they must be humbled and people can say he’s a decent guy.
“I’m sorry, I love to win and hate losing so I’d rather be the guy they say is a bad loser. I’m not going to pretend and show a happy face to show modesty. I don’t have that when I lose so we’ve come far, myself and Victor, we’re buddies now.
“Now we wear the same flag in the continent, we move, we meet all the time, we meet on flights, we meet everywhere, Jerome Damon, we meet. We just in the continent and also in the Gulf area, we’re representing the country very well, as well as Zakhele.”
Mosimane went on to claim he was surprised not to see them in the United Arab Emirates this month before endorsing them for the biggest event in global sport which will kick off in November this year.
“This group has done very well, for me, Victor Gomes is number one in the continent and if he’s number one, I thought I’ll see them at the FIFA [Club] World Cup but they were not there,” Mosimane continued.
“Okay there were guys from Morocco or Algeria very close too, but I think three or two matches I saw the same French referee and I thought hey isn’t there any other darkie one who can do this?
“You know… because last year my game against Palmeiras was done against the referee we South Africa’s arent happy about against Ghana – but he did the game very well against us.
“But if Victor Gomes is not in Qatar in November and Zakhele and his team, I’ll be very surprised. Even [Joshua] Bondo in Botswana is top, he’s climbing up very well so I hope the chance comes and they’re acknowledged.”
