Decorated South African coach Pitso Mosimane suffered his first-ever relegation in his senior coaching career, which spans as far back as 2001.
The 59-year-old saw his Saudi Pro League side Abha Club fail to survive the chop on the final day of the 2023/24 season as they lost 2-1 to Al-Hazm.
Abha needed to avoid defeat against the already relegated Al-Hazm, but defeat meant they finished the campaign in the red zone at number 16 with 32 points.
In a dramatic turn of events, Mosimane’s boys took the lead by letting it slip and further fluffed their chances with a missed penalty during the match.
Mosimane joined the club in January 2024 on a six-month deal and recorded four wins, seven defeats, and three draws.
The three-time CAF Champions League winner with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly also recorded his heaviest coaching defeats while at Abha, when they were thrashed 8-0 by Al Nassr on April 2. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Nassr.
The former Al Ahly coach revealed that his contract with Abha had expired.
“It was difficult times for us, and we played the match under pressure,” Mosimane told the media. “I’m sad about the situation we are in, but this is football; we must accept everything.”
“I took a risk and came to a team at the bottom of the league. I knew that it was a difficult task, but I had hope when we got out of the danger zone three times, and my contract with Abha expires today,” Mosimane concluded.
Mosimane remains one of the most sought-after coaches on the continent, and it will be interesting to see which club he will be joining, with the Kaizer Chiefs keen on acquiring his services.
