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Pitso Mosimane: Al Ahly coach CAF licenses and disrespect from European coaches

Mosimane was among the first batch of coaches to undergo the Pro Licence course when it was officially rolled out by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is ranked as one of Africa's most successful coaches of all-time.

After winning a record five league titles in South Africa with Mamelodi Sundowns, Mosimane was headhunted by Ahly and led them to a record ninth Champions League title last week.

But with the 2020/21 campaign now underway, CAF revealed coaches without the relevant qualifications will no longer be allowed to sit on the bench leaving several coaches at risk of embarrassment.

However, the likes of Gavin Hunt and Josef Zinnbauer have been offered an opportunity to remain on the touchline for the current campaign with their A Licences while being offered the opportunity to acquire their Pro Licences.

"We need to get our licences because CAF told us three years back to get your licences or you won't be part of these programmes, so go for it," he explained in an online press conference with SAFJA.

"And some people said, 'Oh no what's that, I'm winning here, I'm in South Africa.' Okay maybe in SA you can get away with it but the day the PSL or SAFA puts its foot down you will get a shock of your life.

"Some of the names that you know, won't have a job. You're driving a car without a licence. You're flying the aeroplane and you're not a pilot. You're a passenger but you know how to press buttons.

"We're putting our lives at risk with you. People should not come here and coach because they are a coach, or people who failed dismally at many levels in our country.

"They keep getting the jobs back, for what? What did you do? What was your last job? The last job you relegated a team and you're back again!

"Gone are the days when you have European coaches who never coached in their premier league in their countries but suddenly they are in the premier league of South Africa, how did you get that?

"Look at your CV, what did you win? What are you bringing to this country? They come because they have a European passport."

1997/98 - Ted Dumitru (Sundowns) - The Romanian re
1997/98 - Ted Dumitru (Sundowns) - The Romanian replaced Reinhard Fabisch and guided them to their first PSL title. Sundowns suffered just four defeats, finishing on 68 points.
1998/99 - Ted Dumitru (Sundowns) - Dumitru won The
1998/99 - Ted Dumitru (Sundowns) - Dumitru won The Brazilians' second successive PSL title in a season that was decided on GD of +5. Sundowns and Chiefs finished on 75 points.
1999/00 - Paul Dolezar (Sundowns) - Born in Yugosl
1999/00 - Paul Dolezar (Sundowns) - Born in Yugoslavia, raised in France, Serbian citizenship, Dolezar's arrival helped Downs complete a hat-trick of league titles with 75 points.
2002/03 - Roy Barreto (Pirates, bottom left) - Zim
2002/03 - Roy Barreto (Pirates, bottom left) - Zim-born Barreto won the league but was then escorted out of Chatsworth Stadium under heavy security – one of the reasons he quit.
2003/04 - Ted Dumitru (Chiefs) - The Romanian was
2003/04 - Ted Dumitru (Chiefs) - The Romanian was back at it again as he led Amakhosi to their first ever PSL-era title. They finished on 63 points.
2004/05 - Ted Dumitru (Chiefs) - This time 62 poin
2004/05 - Ted Dumitru (Chiefs) - This time 62 points were enough for the Glamour Boys to finish as champions. He claims he left to pursue a research programme in local soccer.
2005/06 - Miguel Gamondi (Sundowns) - The Argentin
2005/06 - Miguel Gamondi (Sundowns) - The Argentinean won the league as a joint-coach alongside Neil Tovey. He arrived in South Africa in 2005 as an assistant to Angel Cappa.
2010/11 - Ruud Krol (Pirates) - This was the Bucca
2010/11 - Ruud Krol (Pirates) - This was the Buccaneers' third PSL title. The Dutch legend led Pirates to a historic treble but ended up leaving and was replaced by Julio Leal.
2011/12 - Augusto Palacios - (Pirates) - The Peruv
2011/12 - Augusto Palacios - (Pirates) - The Peruvian mentor took charge of the Soweto giants between March and September 2012, following Julio Leal's sacking.
2012/13 - Stuart Baxter (Chiefs) - This was the ye
2012/13 - Stuart Baxter (Chiefs) - This was the year Amakhosi did the double as they won both the league and Nedbank Cup. Baxter clinched their first league title in eight years.
2014/15 - Stuart Baxter (Chiefs) - Baxter, now dom
2014/15 - Stuart Baxter (Chiefs) - Baxter, now dominant in the PSL, led Amakhosi to both the league and MTN8 trophies. He is the last foreign coach to have won the title.

Mosimane concedes that the newly formed Pro Licence has caused issues within the strict regulation being enforced by CAF but highlighted how even having qualifications and silverware has not allowed him to command respect.

"We should all get the licence to work but unfortunately the [CAF] Pro Licences are a first on the continent, so we can't ask for Pro Licences. And when are we going to finish the 54 countries of the continent? You can see how long it takes and how difficult it is," he admitted.

"I'm playing against a Portuguese guy for Zamalek, I'm playing against [Patrice] Carteron, I'm playing all these coaches from South America and Europe in this space, this is my level. I'm competing with people from Europe. And you know I'm from South Africa and they say, 'Who's the guy from South Africa?'

"You know the European mentality, so you've got to beat them and he will remember who he played against, that's the only thing. And we need to beat them properly, not by luck or scoring rebounds.

"After the match, they will give you credit. I saw the coach of Pyramids when he was here, I think he's Croatian or Serbian, I know he's a big coach in Europe. You know they look down on you and say, 'Who's this one?' You know [what I mean]? 

"But the game will remind them and their CVs. So in South Africa, we must bring people who made a difference in their countries, then they can contribute to the local game."

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