Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is set to be named as the new coach of Abha Club FC in the Saudi Arabia Pro League.
According to this publication’s sources, Mosimane jetted out of the country over the weekend to conclude terms with the club after opening talks earlier in the month.
Mosimane was one of the analysts for SuperSport TV for the ongoing and dramatic Africa Cup of Nations, but he has not been seen of late, which is a clear indication that he has left the country.
“Mosimane is already in Saudi Arabia on his way to Abha Club and left over the weekend,” said the source.
Mosimane will be taking over a top-flight side that is languishing in 17th place, eager to retain its top-flight status, replacing Romanian coach George Timis who is currently the caretaker.
It’s the second time Timis was installed in that capacity with Czesław Michniewicz and Yousef Al Mannai both sacked this season after poor results.
The club has also lost seven of their last eight matches in all competitions, with the last victory coming against Al Akhdoud in November. If everything goes accordingly, Mosimane’s first game in charge will be against AL-Taawoun FC on 15 February.
He will hope to have Cameroonian duo – forward Karl Toko-Ekambi and goalkeeper Dévis Rogers Epassy, along with Guinea international Francois Kamano after the AFCON.
Interestingly, Kamano was red-carded when Guinea drew 1-1 with Cameroon in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in a Group C match.
Mosimane, who has won the CAF Champions League three times, three CAF Super Cups, and five PSL league titles, will also work with Poland midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, who was once at Paris Saint-German.
It will be the second stint for Mosimane in Saudi Arabia. He coached Al Ahli Jeddah in the Yelo League between September 2022 and June last year, leading them to the Saudi Pro League.
While it was a short-term deal for Mosimane with Ahli and despite guiding them to promotion to the top flight, they didn’t allow him to have an option triggered to stay longer at them even though the contract stipulated that.
It was also before Al Ahli became one of the four Saudi giants who received funding by the country’s Public Investment Fund and brought in the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Eduoard Mendy and Roberto Firmino.
The former Bafana Bafana coach then left Ahli before joining Al Wahda in June also last year in United Arab Emirates.
However, Mosimane could not stay long at Al Wadha, as he parted ways with the club in November, having overseen 10 matches – winning six and losing four.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
