Premier Soccer League: Mamelodi Sundowns manager Pitso Mosimane resigns

Mamelodi Sundowns manager Pitso Mosimane. [Photo: Courtesy]

Mamelodi Sundowns manager Pitso Mosimane has resigned, according to the TimesLive on Wednesday.

Mosimane has been linked with continental giants Al Ahly of Egypt and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca.

A source told TimesLive that Mosimane’s main objective will be winning the CAF African Champions League title again.

“The club he is going to has asked him to join immediately with the desire that he leads them to success in the Caf African Champions League title.

“I hope Sundowns will be happy about this. This is good news story for South Africa. Historically, no black African coach has ever coached these top north African clubs.

"This honour advanced to Pitso, is an honour also advanced to South Africa. And Sundowns were the incubator of all this.”

Sundowns' general manager Yogesh Singh, however, said the former South Africa coach will remain at the Premier Soccer League (PSL) club.

"We have seen these things on the online media about Pitso being linked to Al Ahly. But he has not resigned. This speculation comes because the coach of Al Ahly resigned on Sunday,” Singh pointed out.

On his part, Mosimane did not receive calls or reply to messages regarding his reported exit.

 Mr Mosimane won the 2016 CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns after defeating Egypt's Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate. [Photo: Courtesy]

The 56-year-old is one of the longest-serving and highly rated coaches in South African football, having won several major trophies with SuperSport United between 2001 and 2007.

He served as the caretaker coach of South Africa for seven games during 2007, before Carlos Alberto Parreira was appointed as head coach. He then served as an assistant coach to Parreira, and Joel Santana with South Africa.

In 2010, Mosimane was named as the new head coach of South Africa. He had been an assistant to former coach Carlos Alberto Parreira at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was handed a four-year contract.

He won the 2016 CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns after defeating Egypt's Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate, making them the second South African side to win it after Orlando Pirates in 1995.

In 2016, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) ranked Mosimane as the 10th best coach in the world.