The ex-Mamelodi Sundowns coach has explained his decision to turn down two national teams
Pitso Mosimane has revealed that he recently rejected two offers from West Africa to become a national team coach because the jobs did not align with what he is looking for.
Mosimane has stated his preference of taking over a national team in his next job after club management in the last 12 years.
The tactician is, however, only keen to accept a job that gives him the best possible chance of winning and also offers a conducive working environment.
“National team interests me but it does not mean you go to anyone. You go to the national team where you think you can go to the semi-final and final,” he told the media.
Why did ‘Jingles’ turn down interest from West Africa?
“Unless it is a club again in a space that I think we need to play more in the space. Saudi, Qatar will always be there.
“We had calls with two West African countries but things are done differently in those spaces. You ask yourself what happened, there is a space, the calls come back and it is not easy to [accept].
“You know when there is space of the ministry and the football federation and there is always clashes somewhere there.
“The ministry, because they pay the coach, wants this coach and the football federation wants another coach and there is always that space. Hopefully, we will get one that goes together.”
Mosimane last managed a national team 12 years ago
The highly decorated coach last managed a team in 2012 when he was the Bafana Bafana coach, having previously served as assistant, under Bruce Grobbelaar, Carlos Alberto Pereira and Joel Santana.
He has since gone on to coach Mamelodi Sundowns, leading them to five PSL titles and a CAF Champions League, Al Ahly, where he won back-to-back Champions League crowns, before a one-year stint with Al Ahli Jeddah of Saudi Arabi, who he returned to the top flight.
Mosimane also managed in the UAE where he had a brief stint with Al Wahda before returning to Saudi to take over Abha who he did not manage to save from relegation.