After being reported as one of the strong contenders for the Kaizer Chiefs head coach position before the appointment of Nasreddine Nabi, Pitso Mosimane has clarified whether the club approached him about the job.
Mosimane is currently unattached after his contract ended with relegated Saudi Pro League Abha Club.
Reports suggested that Mosimane’s name appeared in the club’s shortlist as they were seeking a strong figure to revive their fortunes following a nine-year trophy drought.
While acknowledging a positive relationship with the Kaizer Chiefs' owners, the Motaung family, Mosimane insists there were never any discussions with the club's management regarding a potential takeover.
DID KAIZER CHIEFS APPROACH PITSO MOSIMANE FOR A JOB?
“Well, to be honest, we are close to the Motaung family, very close and we talk, we meet but we never touched this subject,” said Mosimane during the interview with Marawa Sports Worldwide.
“You and me can never know until you ask them what is the situation. It would be a very good project.
“When I saw what happened in Bloemfontein with Bafana Bafana, I said football is still alive in South Africa.
“So, I said we can wake up the sleeping giant like we did with Al Ahli in Saudi. Now, we have Firmino, Mendy, Mahrez, Kessie, you can go on.
“It’s not long ago, that was a season behind. Now, the team is…I don’t know how many billions that team is worth now. So, we could wake up a sleeping giant, we did at SuperSport United, we did at Sundowns, you saw where they were, 14th on the log and I think we left the jersey at a better place.”
In the same interview, Jomo Sono, who’s the former coach of Mosimane believes ‘Jingles’ would have been successful at Chiefs.
“I think it would have been a good marriage (between Kaizer Chiefs and Pitso Mosimane) because Pitso is a hard worker,” said Sono.
“Even when he was a player, he used to stay behind with me (do extras) and that was no goalkeeper. I used to stay behind and he would also stay behind.
“And he would work on the set pieces with me, he’s a hard worker. Even now you can see he’s a hard worker. Whatever he’s earned as a coach, he’s a hard worker, I think it would have been a good marriage.”
Sono believes Kaizer Chiefs missed an opportunity by not appointing Pitso Mosimane. He feels the experience of former Al Ahly coach would have come in handy.
‘IT’S A MISSED OPPORTUNITY’
“Yes I think it was a missed opportunity,” he added.
“He has coached at the highest level, I think if he was given a chance somewhere at Chiefs, I think it would have been a good marriage.
“But we don’t know what was happening behind the closed doors. Maybe the dollars were too high or too low.
“But I think it would have been a very successful marriage.”
