As Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane prepares to return to Mamelodi Sundowns for a second time since his departure, he has opened up on the horrific scenes that greeted him last time.
Coming off the back of securing bronze at the Fifa Club World Cup, Mosimane and his Al Ahly charges will now focus on league and Champions League action.
As such, the former Bafana Bafana coach is gearing up to face his former side and will be mindful of the reception he received on his last visit.
In May last year, Mosimane returned to Atteridgeville, seven months following his exit to join the Egyptian giants and received abuse from sections of Downs fans.
‘Jingles’ previously insisted the whole incident was orchestrated and maintained his stance when speaking to the SA Football Journalists’ Association on Wednesday.
“It’s not up to me. You can’t get worried about what you can’t control. I was at that team for eight years and know it in and out. And I know what happened, I know who organised that and I know everything,” he said when asked about another trip to face Sundowns in the Caf Champions League group stages next month.
“But maybe you guys are looking at the supporters (their behaviour), no, they are being told what to do. There are no supporters who can rally around and do something when there’s no movement or direction. They know I know, we all know. If you are in that club, you know that I know what happened because I spent my life there. Whether that comes [again] or doesn’t, it doesn’t matter. What happens is on the pitch. I was sworn at, my team was sworn at in the corridors when players were lining up to go out.
“Even Sundowns players were disappointed at that particular person swearing, but being directed they had been told to go and do that. They were swearing in my language and, of course, Al Ahly players didn’t understand, but at that time I was in my zone, my zone is the badge. It’s not dealing with nobodies,” Mosimane added.
“I asked myself if that’s what I should have received when I’ve contributed that much, gave my life, gave everything to the team. There’s no team that I have given all my life to like that, not even SuperSport United or Al Ahly. I gave so much, made sure that I leave the jersey in a better place, that’s what important for me. The rest is not to talk. The work talks.”
Mosimane insisted that he has bigger things to focus on.
“I have left a footprint, the coaches that came after me didn’t find a team in a bad condition. I was honest in that team, and maybe that’s my problem – I was too honest. I don’t worry about what’s going to happen. I have got bigger things, I’ve got the World Cup to worry about, than to worry about what’s going to be happening on that street in Atteridgeville. I mean, really,” Mosimane concluded.
Downs host Ahly the weekend of 11 March.
