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Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has said he does not want to “talk about a black coach” as he considers himself an international soccer coach.
Mosimane broke new ground and became the first black coach from sub-Saharan Africa to take over at Ahly in early October, when he dramatically left the Mamelodi Sundowns to join the Red Devils.
In the space of two months, Mosimane edged Wydad Casablanca 5-1 in the semi-finals of the Caf Champions League, and Zamalek of Cairo 2-1 in the final on Friday night, drawing one and winning. three in the already secured Egyptian Premier. League.
He also led Ahly to overtake Abou Qir Fertilizers SC and then Al Ittihad in the Egypt Cup quarter and semi-finals, where Mosimane’s side could clinch a hat-trick if they beat El Gaish in Alexandria on Saturday.
Mosimane said that while he is happy that he has paved the way for black African coaches to join Ahly, and wants to continue to do so successfully at the club, he prefers not to be pigeonholed because of his skin color.
“I am honored if there is a trigger, or it could be part of a catalyst for change for our local coaches,” Ahly’s coach said at a South African Association of Soccer Journalists’ news conference.
“I don’t want to talk about ‘black coach’. I’m not playing the race card, but I feel like I’m an international coach, and I think I’m an African coach.
“I don’t see him as a white coach or a black coach, I see him as an African coach. I am an international coach. I’ve been an international coach since I’ve been at Bafana Bafana.
“So I am humbled by what is being said about the impact. Ha, thank God, it was about time.
“And I’ve always said that we can do something here, and we can show what South Africa is all about.
“And thanks to PSL for giving me a chance. Thanks to Mamelodi Sundowns, thanks to all the teams there, that I was able to really sharpen the saw, and really test what we are doing now outside.
“It is the PSL. And thanks to Dr. [Irvin] Khoza [PSL chairman]. I mean, the president even gave me an award. So thanks to everything.
“That is why I always say that the PSL is one of the strongest on the continent, and it really sharpened me.”
Mosimane joined Ahly after winning 11 trophies, including five Premiership titles and the 2016 Champions League, with the Sundowns in eight years.
The coach is on the edge of history. He ended a triplet with Sundowns when Covid-19 disrupted SA’s 2019-20 season that ended earlier than Egypt’s in early September, of the Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout league.
In Egypt he has collected a league champion medal, although that title was beyond question when he joined, and the Caf Champions League. Ahly would also achieve a 2019-20 treble by beating El Gaish ‚and can then win the Caf Super Cup by beating RSB Berkane of Morocco at the Cairo International Stadium on Thursday 10 December.
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