Revered South African coach Pitso Mosimane is not in talks with any Premier Soccer League clubs and is now eyeing a national team job. This is according to his representative and MT Sports managing director, Moira Tlhagale.
Mosimane is currently running down his short-term four-month contract with Saudi Pro League side Abha FC, where he has been given the task of helping save the team from getting relegated at the end of the season.
Despite confirming that MT Sports has already opened talks with interested parties, Tlhagale revealed to Sunday World recently that they were not engaging with any South African teams yet.
“Locally, no, we are not in talks with any club. I will tell you definitely the next move that the coach and his entire technical team would like to do. It is a national team project,” Tlhagale said.
“So, we are looking at those options for a national team project because that’s the mandate that they’ve given me. But obviously, if there is any other project that comes, even local, we will consider it,” she said.
“I think for us, it’s always about agreeing on two key principles… that the coach comes with his own technical team and that the team does not just buy players without consulting with the technical team. I mean if that is the agreement, then we are good to go.”
Prior to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and eventually signing with Abha in February, Mosimane was unsurprisingly linked to many teams, including the Nigeria national team.
Recently, Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha said he would be delighted to see a coach of Mosimane’s calibre take over the reins at the Super Eagles.
“Of course, he is someone that can coach the Nigeria national team. I think Pitso, without any doubt, is one of the best African coaches,” Okocha said.
“His track record is there for everyone to see and if we can get a coach like that, he will add -value to our football.”
The Nigeria coaching job remains vacant after coach Jose Peseiro stepped down after their 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast in the Afcon final.
