Celebrated South African coach Pitso Mosimane has not yet been paid his dues by Esteghlal FC, according to MT Sports Managing Director Moira Tlhagale.
The Iranian outfit have been having challenges regarding cash flow after their former boss failed to make necessary transactions. Initially, Mosimane's agency had opted to walk away from the deal, but the technical team opted to stay put.
Tlhagale has since revealed why their clients decided to stay with the team despite salary hiccups.
Let us give Esteghlal time
“Up to now the coaches have still not been paid, yesterday was Wednesday, I think it was day 15 according to the FIFA law where you give a team 15 days to pay or you've got the right to terminate,” she told SABC Sport.
“I have spoken to the coaches yesterday and the decision for now is not yet to terminate, to give them more time because if you are aware of the old CEO who was there when we arrived, the gentleman that I negotiated with has now moved on.
“They've got a new CEO, new chairman, so we just thought also let's give them time to settle and get in with the work and understand the dynamic of what they found. We think it's fair from that point of view.”
Why have they not paid Mosimane and his staff?
“Why they have not being paid? I actually don't have an answer for that. I think it's an answer that we are also looking for, to understand why there has not been payment but I think coach Pitso has done tremendously well,” Tlhagale continued.
“He is, if I'm not mistaken running nine games without a loss. He has as we all know as a strategist who is a turnaround football strategist, has done exactly that. I believe he will be able to turn the team around.
“It will be unfortunate if we have to terminate because of non-payment because the reality is I cannot have my coaches there and not being paid.”
Mosimane might take his team to the top half of the table with victory over Shams Azar Qazvin in the Persian Pro League assignment set for Monday.
