Pitso Mosimane says he would make himself available to any South African footballer seeking advice on wanting to take their career to the next level.
Mosimane, who was named as the latest Nedbank Cup ambassador during the current FIFA international break has earned widespread plaudits globally since leaving South Africa.
Having won back-to-back CAF Champions League titles and bronze medals at the FIFA Club World Cup with Al Ahly, he left for a new venture in the Saudi Arabia second-tier.
He’s now set to lead Al Ahli back to the Saudi Pro League but when asked about the role of agents have in career trajectories, he remained mum – but stated he is open to any player who are seeking his advice.
“I must be very careful of me talking against agents because my wife is running an agency also, so I must be careful,” Mosimane said at the Nedbank Cup event.
“But I’m a direct person, you know me, I always say the way it is. And it’s the same, somewhere, somehow, I think first the players don’t know what’s happening outside, they only say Europe.
“Whereas first there’s North Africa here, second, there’s the Gulf, and there’s also Europe. And in Europe, there’s the Premier League, the top six leagues in the world and then there’s also Europe where the Patson Daka’s started [in Austria], where the Sadio Mane’s started, there’s also that kind of Europe, Scandinavia, Belgium, they develop players.
“So players need to understand that and not to say only Europe, only Europe but the agents also, what advice do we give the players, sometimes I look at certain players and say ‘oh this guy is such a good player’, he can go out with his talent and play in a better league and earn more money…
“But I’m conflicted, I can’t say a lot because I don’t want problems throwing the cat amongst the pigeons – but players out there, I’m available to speak, to give advice privately, they can call me and I can even say to you, I think you can play there, you can play there and with your talent, you have the capacity to earn this…”
Mosimane says his travels across the globe since becoming a coach has opened his eyes to endless possibilities and suggested that long-term contracts while players are in their prime are perhaps what’s hindering thier moves abroad.
“I’ve traveled, I’ve been in that space, I know what’s happening in the space, even in Saudi they can earn a lot of money, but it’s all about what’s on the contract, how long is your contract and all that,” he added.
“Sometimes long-term contracts are good, sometimes they are not good for players, I mean five years? Sometimes you can’t come out, even [Kylian] Mbappe doesn’t sign for five years. But it’s the system here, it’s the situation, even [Lionel] Messi doesn’t sign five years, let’s be honest.”
