Al Ahly president Mahmoud El-Khatib has opened up on Pitso Mosimane’s exit from the club, saying the South African was physically and psychologically tired.
Mosimane left Al Ahly in the weeks after the loss in the CAF Champions League final against Wydad Athletic Club but his departure came as a shock to many fans and even members of the club.
Al Ahly had stated at the time that they wanted to continue with Mosimane but he opted to leave in the middle of the season.
‘Captain Bibo’, who held an hour-long press conference over the weekend, now addressed Mosimane’s exit for the first time in public.
“While he was attending a training course in Morocco, we were discussing with Mosimane what the club needed for the Egyptian Premier League campaign,” he said in a recent address on Al Ahly TV.
“But he told us he was tired physically and psychologically and couldn’t continue the season.”
El-Khatib also admitted there was a “campaign” against ‘Jingles after several Al Ahly legends and also some members from within the club had constantly criticised the South African coach, despite his trophy-laden spell in Cairo.
Mosimane himself is using his off-time to visit clubs on the African continent, having started with Royal AM in South Africa before taking part in Young African’s Citizen’s Week.
During his visit at Tanzanian giants Yanga, Mosimane was also asked why he is taking a sabbatical from the game and he also pointed at fatigue as the main reason for his decision.
“I was at the Stadium every day with matches every three days and I was travelling a lot,” he said.
“Now I have decided to rest and I am using my rest to participate with Young Africans SC in the Citizen’s Week.”
