Pitso Mosimane abruptly leaves latest club

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Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has made a swift exit from Iranian topflight side Esteghlal after “extensive efforts to address the matter” of unpaid salaries owed to him and his technical team failed to find a resolution.

A formal default notice was delivered on 1 January, but the matter was not addressed – according to Mosimane and his team – and he has now abruptly left the club due to the face there are unpaid salaries owed for more than two months.

“Moving forward, the appropriate processes will be followed to resolve the matter,” a statement read.

PITSO MOSIMANE IS NOW ON THE JOB MARKET AGAIN

Mosimane last coached in South Africa when he was in charge of Mamelodi Sundowns, having been at the helm of Masandawana during a memorable stint between 2012 and 2020.

This ultimately provided the platform for him to secure a high-profile gig with Egyptian giants Al Ahly, where he was hugely successful.

PREVIOUS INCIDENT OF A SIMILAR NATURE

It also can’t be forgotten that the experienced coach officially left Saudi club Al Ahli over unpaid salaries in 2023, with the payment debacle leading to an acrimonious exit.

After terminating his contract, Mosimane shared a classy message, expressing his “satisfaction for having achieved the difficult task of promoting the team back to the Saudi Pro League”.

He went on to thank the players and supporters in particular, but there is no doubt that he left the club with a sour taste in his mouth after allegedly going unpaid for six months.

According to reports from Saudi Arabia, Mosimane sent a complaint to Fifa over six months’ unpaid salaries, as well as the fact – among other issues – that there was supposedly an automatic clause meant to extend his contract if he were to get Al-Ahli promoted from the Yelo League.

FIFA explained Mosimane’s case via the statement: “In his [Mosimane’s] claim, the claimant argued that the respondent [Ahli] failed to pay various salaries, far more than two months, despite being put in default and granted 15 days to remedy the default before unilaterally terminating the contract.

“Furthermore, the claimant argued that several bonus payments in the amount of $246,000 (R4.75 million) net had not been remitted.”

Al Ahli were instructed to also pay Mosimane $355,500 (R6.9 million) net as outstanding remuneration plus 5% in interest. Al Ahli needed to further pay Mosimane $8,218.80 (R159,000) net as outstanding remuneration, $3,394 (R65,000) as outstanding remuneration, $786,000 (R15.2 million) net as compensation for breach of contract without just cause, plus 5% interest.

All in all, the club apparently needed to pay Mosimane in excess of R22 million.