Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has won his case against Al Ahli Jeddah via FIFA tribunal.
Mosimane, appointed on 24 September 2022 on a contract until 2023 with an option, helped Ahli to gain promotion back the topflight after they had been relegated for the first time in their history.
The one-year contract Mosimane signed included a clause that if he gains promotion a huge windfall of bonuses would follow, while his deal would automatically be extended.
Mosimane was paid $1,166,000 (R22.5 million) net as annual salary for the 2022/23 season, equalling to $139,500 (R2.7 million) monthly until May 2023.
Mosimane’s team claimed the club also agreed to pay him a bonus of $144,000 (R2.8 million) net, if he can promote them back to the Saudi Pro League, and another $72,000 (R1.4 million) net, if he wins the Saudi First Division.
His deal also included an automatic extension extension clause in case of promotion and a salary of $1,440,000 (R27.8 million) net for the season 2023/2024, equalling to $120,000 (R2.3 million) per month until 31 May 2024.
Finally, his contract also included four return business class flight tickets between Jeddah and Johannesburg.
At the time of his departure from Al Ahli, the Saudi club had outstanding payments to Mosimane and his technical team, while the bonus clauses were also not met, and the South African then took the Saudi giants to FIFA.
FIFA explained Mosimane’s case via the statement: “In his [Mosimane’s] claim, the claimant argued that the respondent [Ahli] failed to pay various salaries, far more than two months, despite being put in default and granted 15 days to remedy the default before unilaterally terminating the contract.
“Furthermore, the claimant argued that several bonus payments in the amount of $246,000 (R4.75 million) net had not been remitted.”
The world football body’s DC has now ruled in Mosimane’s favour, stating Al Ahli must pay Mosimane $355,500 (R6.9 million) net as outstanding remuneration plus 5% in interest.
In addition, Al Ahli also need to pay Mosimane $8,218.80 (R159,000) net as outstanding remuneration, $3,394 (R65,000) as outstanding remuneration, $786,000 (R15.2 million) net as compensation for breach of contract without just cause plus 5% interest.
In total that adds up to over R22 million that Ahli will need to pay Mosimane.
Mosimane, who has won the CAF Champions League three times, joined Abhu Dabi side Al Wahda in July last year but left in September after just 10 matches in charge, during which he won six and lost four.
He was linked with the Kaizer Chiefs post, but the former Bafana coach returned to Saudi Arabia, joining Abha Club on 11 January on a contract until the end of the 2023/2024 season.