Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has addressed the situation of one of his players crying on the bench and revealed what he told his tearful star.
The South African tactician is bracing himself for a tough week as Al Ahly face Egyptian Premier League leaders Pyramids, the club of Bafana Bafana striker Fagrie Lakay, who have one game in hand, on Tuesday before traveling to South Africa to meet Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League.
Mosimane, though, had a rather uncommon situation to discuss after striker Hossam Hassan was seen in tears on the Al Ahly bench recently.
“I spoke to him because I didn’t understand what’s happening then I saw things going on and he was crying. I spoke to him and he understands and he says I’m crying because I just don’t have the opportunity,” he said.
“I said ‘yes, I want to give you the opportunity but Sherif scored two goals tonight’. I mean really – even Percy Tau is outside, Luis [Miquissone] scored two goals, you must ask me why I don’t play Luis.
“Maybe when he cried you will look at it differently. But we love Hossam Hassan, he’s a good player, top player, he’s going to help us.
“Let’s build him, let’s build him. Because sometimes you put him in, he doesn’t score and then maybe you will say ah that’s why they didn’t play him.
“Give him a chance, he’s important, we need him, we have too many games, I expect him, he understands and tonight he did not cry.”
Hassan has made seven substitute appearances for Al Ahly this season so far, but five of those have been seven minutes or less.
