Pitso Mosimane admitted his experience of Asian football is limited but he’s prepared to put in the hours to have success with Al Ahli.
Mosimane, who was appointed as the successor of Uruguayan Robert Siboldi, penned a two-year contract this week and is expected to make his managerial debut this evening in a city rivalry against Jeddah Club this evening.
Arriving in Asia as arguably the most successful coach in African football, Mosimane understands reputation means nothing in the new space he finds himself in, much like the pressure of Al Ahly in Egypt – but in his first press conference to the media, he’s asked them for patience as he gets to grip with his new surroundings.
“Yes, you are right, I have a little experience in Asia, of course, Africa is my space, the only experience I have about Asia is to play for Al Sadd in Qatar and the only experience of Asia is through the FIFA Club World Cup,” he said.
“It was with my first team Mamelodi Sundowns, we played a South Korean and Japanese team – so that’s the only experience I have with Asia and also, six months back I was in the World Cup against Al Hilal – that you know very well.
“That’s the only experience I have with Asia, but I think all the coaches who’ve been successful in Saudi, didn’t have a big experience in Asia, so I’m like all the other coaches who were successful over here. They didn’t have experience.
“What I know is that football is the same, football is football – but you are right, maybe [I need] to understand a little bit of the culture and mentality of Saudi football players and you need to give me time.”
Ahli are currently seventh in the Saudi Arabian First Division and the mandate is clear, win promotion and restore the pride of the club won the Pro League four times, whilst finishing as runners-up on nine occasions.
“I’m prepared to learn about Saudi football and I’ve started yesterday, I watched Al Nassr and Al Ittihad, [it’s a] big game, a few red cards I saw,” Mosimane continued.
“This is just to understand what is happening at the highest level, so where I am, I can know what is needed at the top. So that’s just about getting an understanding of Saudi football.
“In that game, I saw one coach from France [Rudi Garcia], a good coach. I competed against him in the World Cup, he’s a good man, he was good to me – so I’m learning slowly.”
