Sunday Times E-Edition

Power play

I’ll pay for Mosimane to return to Bafana, says Motsepe

By SAZI HADEBE

● Pitso Mosimane must coach Bafana Bafana and if the SA Football Association (Safa) does not have the money to rehire Mosimane, who was Bafana’s coach between 2010 and 2012, the Motsepe Foundation will have to foot the bill.

This is the view of SA businessman and Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe, who delivered a keynote address at the South African National Editors Forum’s (Sanef) annual general meeting in Parktown yesterday.

Mosimane was the head coach at Motsepe’s club Mamelodi Sundowns for eight years (20122020) and he won 10 trophies, including five league titles, before leaving in October 2020 to join Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Mosimane resigned from Ahly early this month after a 20 month stay during which he won five trophies including two Caf Champions League.

Motsepe also spoke about the need for Caf to return to having two-legged finals in their club competitions — the Champions League and Confederation Cup.

This, added Motsepe, was prompted by the controversy that erupted all over the continent when Caf decided to give Morocco the right to host last month’s Champions League final between the winners Wydad Athletic of Morocco and Ahly.

Mosimane, 57, is currently without a club and has been linked with jobs in SA and Qatar after returning to SA last week having tendered his shock resignation at Ahly following a 2-0 loss to Wydad.

“I love Pitso and I’ve always loved Pitso,” Motsepe said of Mosimane, who he has not had a cordial relationship with since he left Sundowns. “He’s got a special place in my heart. I wish him well and wish he could coach Bafana Bafana. I will tell the Motsepe Foundation to subsidise his salary.”

Asked if he was saying that because Mosimane was expensive, the Caf president retorted: “I think he’s quality. And quality should not come cheap.”

Motsepe spoke at length about his wish to end the perception that Morocco has been favoured by Caf for hosting most of the organisation’s marquee events, especially this year.

Morocco are hosts of the African Women’s Cup of Nations (Awcon) which starts next Saturday and they also get the honour of handling the Caf Awards on July 21 during the tournament.

“Caf took a decision in 2018 (before Motsepe was Caf president) that they’re going to have a one-legged final. But we’ve got to change that decision,” said Motsepe.

“We had countries that have got to compete to host the finals and SA was one of them. But you can’t compete without government support. Safa also wanted to be hosts but there was no government support.

“So at the end of the day only two countries, Morocco and Senegal, complied with the conditions (to be hosts). I privately, said you can’t be a president of the organisation that doesn’t comply with the rules, regulations and agreements. So I complied.

“But let me tell you, the concern from Al Ahly that they would be disadvantaged (by playing Wydad in Morocco in the final) is a fair concern. The only problem I had was that I cannot be a president that disregards and ignores rules and regulations. But we’ll fix it (the issue of the hosts), it will never happen again.

“It’s something I inherited and it’s something I could not change. We’ll change it. We’ll have a twolegged final because again I can imagine the (anger of the) supporters of Al Ahly in Egypt and of course my favourite coach Pitso Mosimane.”

Motsepe was also at pains to defend Morocco for a number of Caf events that they’re hosting. “While I’m president of Caf, no club or nation is going to enjoy the first status. But then again, the issue is not about what the facts are, the issue is perception.

“The reason we’re having the Caf Awards in Morocco (on July 21 ahead of the Awcon final on July 23) is because we’re having the women’s competition in Morocco.

“But I do want to conclude by saying I’ve been sensitive to the perception that we should not be seen to be favouring Morocco or any individual country. When I’m with all the presidents of the associations in Africa, this is the message I will give.

“We don’t only have a duty to emphasise that in what we do it doesn’t lead to a perception that we favour any single country. Morocco, more than any other country in Africa, donates money and makes contributions to football development on the continent. But I fully understand the president of Al Ahly (Mahmoud El Khatib) and we’ll make sure

that we treat everybody equally.”

Sport

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2022-06-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-26T07:00:00.0000000Z

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