Amid the doom and gloom of ordinary people existence in SA such as loadshedding, skyrocketing cost of living and the sorry saga of the tragicomedy that passes for politics and governance a development that should have been celebrated more widely went almost unheralded safe for a few headlines.
That SA has always been gifted with talent in almost any field one can think of has often been borne out by the many expats around the globe, making a success of the ventures and thereby making the world a better place. When Eskom power blackouts were at their very worst last week, mention was made of 400 odd South Africans who could help keep the lights on but were scattered around the globe somewhere, benefitting other people.
We may not as a nation produce world class footballers of late, mainly due to the lack of leadership and foresight on the part of the suits in administration, who think they own football. Everybody agrees we have world-class, state-of-the-art facilities that should naturally make the job much easier but that is a story for another day.
Allow us, dear reader, to bask in the reflected glory off a son of the soil who is making many a patriot pump the chest high and declare: I am South African. Pitso Mosimane is no conformist and believes in his capabilities so much so that he had dared tread where would rather not.
He stands tall today, in a class of his own as he takes another demanding job, this time beyond the confines of the continent. When he made a success of his career here in SA, many doubters declared his pedigree was built on nothing but the deep pockets of the owners of the clubs he coached.
He took over from Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar as a manager of SuperSport United. We are still to hear why if Mosimane was not good enough, he succeeded in what a footballer renowned the world over had failed. SuperSport United won trophies and challenged the big bulls in the local kraal.
Then came the Bafana Bafana job from which he was unceremoniously sent packing for making an uncharacteristic error of misunderstanding the CAF qualifying criteria for the Africa Cup of Nations. The suits at Safa House were ruthless in wielding the axe.
One man's meat is another's poison and Mamelodi Sundowns came knocking. Four league titles, several domestic cups and the CAF Champions League and Super Cup titles later, African indisputable biggest club Al Ahly came knocking. When Mosimane bade them farewell, the Egyptians had added two CAF Champion League titles, two Club World Cup bronze finishes and two domestic cups.
Now, that is success by any standards. Included to that, the fact that he is only the South African football mentor working as head coach for a professional club overseas.
We may not have a knighthood to bestow you but as you mount your camel to start the journey with Al Ahli Saudi FC, we are awed and can only wish the best, Sir Pitso.
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