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Mosimane turns down offer to coach Zamalek

Marc Strydom

Al-Ahli Saudi coach Pitso Mosimane says he has received an offer to join Egyptian giants Zamalek but turned it down because “the timing is not right”.

Mosimane’s tenure at Ahli appears to be coming to an end despite the coach achieving his mandate at the Jeddah club of guiding them to promotion to the Saudi Pro League (SPL).

A report that Mosimane and his fellow SA technical staff members have allegedly not been paid for months appears to confirm strains between the coach and Ahli’s management. The club indicated they might look for a new coach to take them into the top flight.

Mosimane told Bein Sports Arabic in an interview this week he received an offer from Zamalek but did not specify when.

“This timing is not appropriate to accept the offer,” he said.

The coach again clarified he has a clause in his contract at Ahli that sees a one-year extension on promotion from the Yelo League, but “the club’s management did not contact me in this regard, I would like to stay in the Asian continent.”

Mosimane coached Zamalek’s bitter rivals, Cairo giants Al Ahly, in his previous job, winning five trophies, including back-to-back Caf Champions League titles in almost two years there.

He arrived at Ahli — a big team in Saudi Arabia, who won three league titles and were in the SPL from its inception in 1976 until a relegation in 202122 — with them battling in seventh place after five games in the Yelo League.

Despite his success, Ahli’s management have not confirmed Mosimane will stay. Club president Walid Moaz last week said Mosimane’s future would be decided after their final match, a 0-0 draw against Al Hazm on Monday. He was quoted as saying: “Pitso Mosimane performed well with the team, but the ambition is greater.”

It is understood Ahli are the subject of a Fifa transfer ban until they pay $500,000 (R9.9m) to South Korean club Suwon Samsung Bluewings for the acquisition of Bosnian midfielder Elvis Saric.

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2023-06-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-02T07:00:00.0000000Z

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