Award-winning South African coach Pitso Mosimane is inclined towards managing a national team as he is currently not in discussions with any Premier Soccer League clubs, Soccernet.ng reports.
Moira Tlhagale, Mosimane's representative and managing director of MT Sports, affirmed this stance, according to the Sunday World.
Mosimane is presently fulfilling a short-term four-month contract with Saudi Pro League outfit Abha FC, with the mandate to help the club avoid relegation for the team by season's end.
However, Tlhagale has asserted that the former Mamelodi Sundowns manager is not in talks with any South African clubs and would prioritise working with a national team when he leaves Saudi Arabia.
“Locally, no, we are not in talks with any club. I will tell you definitely the next move that the coach and his entire technical team would like to do. It is a national team project,” Tlhagale revealed.
Mosimane's interest
This statement takes more significance considering that Mosimane's name had previously surfaced in connection with handling the Nigeria national team.
Before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria finished as runners-up, the former Al Ahly manager expressed his desire to help the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 World Cup at the expense of South Africa.
“To be honest, I would like to coach in the World Cup,” Mosimane said. “I do not choose what comes; I would like to go to the World Cup. South Africa wants to qualify, and Nigeria wants to qualify.
“If you have (Samuel) Chukuweze and the boy (Victor Osimhen) playing for Napoli as your striker, I mean really. That Nigerian team is unbelievable.
“I saw the draw against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Okay, it’s football, it happens. But how can politics between the government and the federation derail the team?
“Of course, I want South Africa to win because I am South African. But in reality, I think Nigeria has the team, man.
“I really would like to go to the World Cup, but it must be a good team that can compete.”
Mosimane has Okocha's backing
While many Nigerians have been clamouring for the Nigeria Football Federation to hire one of the indigenous coaches jostling for the job, former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay-Jay Okocha was one of the few who voiced his support for Mosimane.
Expressing enthusiasm at the prospect of the esteemed coach guiding the Super Eagles, Nigeria football icon Okocha said:
“Of course, he is someone that can coach the Nigeria national team. I think Pitso, without any doubt, is one of the best African coaches.
“His track record is there for everyone to see, and if we can get a coach like that, he will add -value to our football.”
Mosimane's track record
Mosimane enjoyed a decent career that saw him play for Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, win the second-division title in Greece, and earn four caps for South Africa's national team.
After retiring, he took to coaching and quickly won titles with Supersport United before stepping into the big time with Mamelodi Sundowns.
During his memorable eight-year spell with The Brazilians, Mosimane lifted the Premier Soccer League five times, the CAF Champions League in 2016, and the CAF Super Cup the following year.
The 59-year-old tactician joined Egyptian giants Al Ahly in 2020 and led them to two Champions League titles.
He also won the Saudi First Division League with Al-Ahli last year to seal his legacy as one of the longest-serving and most decorated coaches in all of South African football.
Mosimane was the coach of South Africa between 2010 and 2012, leading the Bafana Bafana to six victories, eight draws, and three losses in 17 games.
Among the numerous awards Mosimane has bagged, the most prestigious include being named the PSL Coach of the Season five times and the CAF Coach of the Year in 2016.
NB: Would you want award-winning Pitso Mosimane to be the next Super Eagles coach? Leave your comments below.
South Africa will never appoint a Nigerian coach to coach their national team – Bafana Bafana, because of the rivalry between us. So it will be an insult to Nigeria to appoint south African Pitso to coach the Nigerian Super Eagles.
What we need at this moment is a good coach that can take our team many notches upwards, even if he has is Ghanaian. Forget about rivalry.
I agree. What we want is a good coach even he is Ghanian.
if a good coach can come from Ghana, South Africa or Cameroun, we don’t mind him couching the super eagles
let us swallow our pride and go for the south african coach, his track record speaks volumes
What we need at this moment is a good coach that can take our team many notches upwards, even if he is Ghanaian. Forget about rivalry.
just give Emmanuel amunike the job. period.
I am a fan of this coach if he shows interest to coach super let’s have him please he is the best African as of today
He deserves it please
Pitso is not Amunike or Finidi’s mate when it comes to coaching. Except anyone is blinded by sentiment, the proof is there for all to see. Our local coaches are not hungry and are notwready to prove their worth outside of Nigeria, unlike late Keshi and Amodu. Finidi Won the league with Enyimba and failed on the continental stage. Amunike has achieved nothing sensible since he won U-17 world cup. He failed at U20 and all his coaching assignment after U17. And he has not done anything significant to improve himself in recent time. We have a bunch of guys (Eagles 94 set precisely) who think coaching National team is their birthright and in the interim are doing nothing meaningful to improve themselves. We need to stop deceiving ourselves. Pitso has proven himself repeatedly in SA, repeatedly in the continent, and even went beyond Africa to make his mark in Saudi. If Pitso is available and willing, please throw all these talk about Amunike and Finidi in the garbage and let’s go for him.
giant of africa now they need our help n very interesting
Sentiment apart, the coach is vast in African football.All the clubs so far coached is a testimony to his track record But then let him try to coach one English team so that his profile can speak for him.. Nigeria have the best players quality talents for any coach who knows his onions to Excel upon. He knows why ,he is clamoring to be Nigeria football coach. Can NFF give him a trial?. Time will tell.
sign him @nff
No sentiment good tactics, power to over come ,nigerian glass house politics ,CAf FIFA and,EUROP connection .No issues he has best record as African coach.