Abha Club coach Pitso Mosimane was not interested in discussing whether his former club Al Ahli have paid him, saying for him it’s more important that he brought them back into the Saudi Pro League.
Mosimane suffered a 5-1 defeat against his former side, leaving Abha in 17th place, two points behind the non-relegation spots with just two games left to play.
There was a lot of focus on the South African tactician around the game, as he faced the side he guided back into the top flight before they saw a heavy cash-injection as one of the four clubs supported by the Public Investment Fund, allowing them to buy players like Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez.
“My time with Al Ahli, you know the history? I’m proud when I see the team full, when I see Firmino, when I see Mahrez,” he told journalists, as per Aawsat.
“I’m proud with my little bit of contribution and I’m happy when I see them back, I’m happy when I see them singing.
“Because I know when I came where it was, I know where I left it. That’s my small contribution.
“They’re a big team and they gave me a chance to come to Saudi and I paid them back for giving me a chance.
“I would not be in Abha, if Al Ahli didn’t bring me. I have nothing against Al Ahli and good luck to them. I want to see them winning the title.”
After Mosimane left Al Ahli, he and his representatives – as well as the rest of his technical team – took the Jeddah giants to FIFA over unpaid salaries, who ruled in their favour, but Mosimane was not keen to discuss the matter.
“Listen, my friend, maybe to you, money is more important than history. For me, it’s important the legacy and history, that you cannot remove,” he replied to a journalist.
“That Al Ahli are back in the Roshin League. With money or no money, makes no difference. We continue living life.”
When asked whether he would work for free, Mosimane admitted that he got paid some of the money.
“Ahli paid me some of the money, and I’ve no problem. Do you know why? Because they gave me the chance to be in Saudi [Arabia].
“I would not be here, if Al Ahli did not give me the chance. That is more important to me.”
The back-to-back FIFA Club World Cup bronze medallist next leads his troops against 11th-placed Al-Khaleej at home on Thursday, May 23, in yet another bid to try and aid Abha preserve their Saudi Pro League status.
