Now set to be officially addressed as Dr Pitso Mosimane, the most successful South African coach rolled out a red carpet for his distinguished guests and some of the big guns of African football during his 60th birthday celebration at the FNB Stadium on Friday.
In what was an already overwhelmingly emotional and jampacked week, Mosimane could not have asked for a much better ending to it, with his family by his side.
It all started on Wednesday when the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly mentor was conferred with an honorary doctorate by the University of Johannesburg, for his success and contribution to football.
African football pioneers in attendance
African football pioneers Florent Ibenge, Kalusha Bwalya, and Senegal coach Aliou Cisse graced both occasions with their presence in support of Mosimane’s achievements.
“We are happy to be here, because he is a friend, a big manager. And if he has a ceremony like he has today, we’re happy to come. I’m happy to be here today,” Cisse said.
“I think coaches in Africa will progress day by day, year by year, we’re walking altogether. Florent is here, I am here, Pitso is a legend, and we need coaches in Africa to be strong. We need to work together to manage our national teams or clubs.”
DR Congo national team coach Ibenge did not shy away from touting Mosimane as the best coach to ever come out of Africa.
“Pitso is one of the best coaches in the history of African football. He achieved something at every club he went to, so he is actually the best,” Ibenge said.
Dignitaries from sports, business and politics
Other esteemed dignitaries who came out to celebrate Mosimane included ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi, Ria Ledwaba also graced the occasion. Doctor Khumalo and businessman Happy Ntshingila were in attendance too. So was former Bafana Bafana medical doctor Victor Ramathesele, among many others.
Former footballers who were also there were the likes of Ricardo Katza, Teko Modise, Tsepo Masilela and Morgan Gould. Bernard Parker, Kaizer Motaung Jnr, and ex-SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo were also in attendance.
“I must say that I was humbled by the MT Sports family office for organising this. They hid it from me. I didn’t know what was happening. And I was just humbled when I came over here to see what they had,” Mosimane said. He was referring to the setup of the museum. The place was set up with all the teams he represented during his playing and coaching career.
“What is nice is that they’ve got the generations well. Like Jomo Cosmos, that was the last jersey for the Mainstay Cup. That was the last jersey of the Mainstay Cup.
Proud to be footnote in football history
“I like the setup, they brought the history, and they came with the history properly. It’s not just jerseys hung, it’s history.”
Mosimane’s decorated medal cabinet consists of the big ones. It has three Caf Champions League winners medals and two Fifa Club World Cup bronze medals. These are amongst other league and domestic cup competition medals.
The 60-year-old is currently out of work after parting ways with Saudi Arabia’s Al Wahda. But he says he is not thinking about his next job. He plans to focus his energy on the Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools (PMSS).
