Tension between Mosimane, former club Sundowns continues to escalate

HOSTILITIES between Pitso Mosimane and his former club Mamelodi Sundowns escalated yesterday after his representatives revealed that they had received summons from the Chloorkop-based side demanding that commission fees paid related to him be returned.

Mosimane left Sundowns in September last year, a few months after extending his contract and joined Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly.

The decision did not go down very well at Chloorkop and tension between the two parties has been brewing for months.

Mosimane’s representatives, MT Sports Marketing and Management, said they were stunned after receiving the summons from the recently crowned DStv Premier Soccer League champions.

“It is with a deep measure of shock and disappointment that MT Sports Marketing and Management has received summons from Mamelodi Sundowns FC demanding to be paid back commission fees in lieu of coach Pitso Mosimane'” the management company said.

“We have received communication from Mamelodi Sundowns and have attempted to reach an amicable solution to this matter’ but they have not responded to our request to meet with us.

“We attempted to speak to then club president Dr Patrice Motsepe in January this year’ and we were refused’ and also last week with chairman Tlhopane Motsepe (and) we were met with silence.”

The hostilities have been simmering for months and matters came to a head when a section of the Pretoria club’s supporters hurled insults at Mosimane and his mother when he was travelling in the Al Ahly team bus to Lucas Moripe Stadium to face Sundowns in a tense Caf Champions League second-leg quarter-final match last week.

The incensed supporters clad in the Brazilian’s colours tried to block the visitors’ route outside the venue and hurled insults at their former coach and his family’ and also brandished placards with similar profanities.

Sundowns apologised to Al Ahly a few days later’ but not to Mosimane’ and the coach was not impressed by that.

Mosimane’s Sundowns salary was reportedly R1,5m a month’ according to a Sunday World report at the weekend; and his representatives believe this information was deliberately leaked as part of a dirty tricks campaign against him.

The report also said the club is demanding that Mosimane and his wife Moira Tlhagale’ who is his manager, pay back almost R8 million in agent commission awarded to her when he extended his contract on June 1 last year.

Mosimane’s contract was expected to run until May 31, 2024, and his representatives were paid R8 632 260′ which was a 10 percent agent commission fee.

“The leaking of the story to the media is impolite and smacks of bullying tactics,” said Mosimane’s representatives after the information was made public.

“This also comes after last week’s events where sections of Sundowns fans hurled insults to Coach Pitso and his mother. The summons and the media leaks put into disrepute Dr Motsepe’s blessings on the termination of the contracts’ and well-wishes on coach Pitso joining Al Ahly SC last year.

“In his own words’ Dr Motsepe said, ‘I have on several occasions’ over the past few years’ expressed my support for Pitso Mosimane leaving Sundowns to coach in North Africa or Europe or Bafana Bafana. I have received a warm and emotional note from Pitso and am very proud of his achievements at Mamelodi Sundowns. Pitso has been the most successful coach in the history of Sundowns and will always be a member of the Mamelodi Sundowns Family’.”

Mosimane told the media last week that he would write a book about the treatment he has received from Sundowns since his departure last year.

His representatives said he just wants to be left alone to continue his work in Egypt without continued interference from the Pretoria side.

“Coach Pitso is doing very well in Egypt’ having recently won the Caf Super Cup with Al Ahly SC. He has been well-received by Al Ahly and the entire Egyptian nation. His only desire is to focus on his job and continue to deliver on his mandate.

“There are also social media posts making the rounds that Ms Tlhagale alleges that Dr Patrice Motsepe has used one of the team’s employees in match fixing. We would like to categorically state that Ms Tlhagale has never said such things about Dr Motsepe or anyone associated with the club.

“There are unknown forces that are attempting to put MT Sports Marketing and Management’s name into disrepute. We’ as MT Sports and coach Pitso’ are grateful to Mamelodi Sundowns for the years he spent there and would not like this glorious legacy to be soiled by tussles that could easily and rapidly be handled professionally and privately.

“We hope sanity will prevail and that this will be resolved amicably. However’ if this is not possible, we will be happy to meet Mamelodi Sundowns in court. We will not be conducting any media interviews for the time being and we urge people to cease sending malicious messages about Ms Tlhagale’ coach Pitso and MT Sports Marketing and Management.” — Times Live.