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DEVE GUARDARE
(16 video)
Pitso Mosimane: Pep Guardiola guarda al futuro dell'Africa
Il Wolfsburg è qualificato per la finale di Women's Champions League
Il nuovo direttore sportivo di US Soccer affronta il futuro del programma maschile e femminile
Perché ci sono stati così tanti infortuni al ginocchio delle migliori calciatrici?
La star di Premier Leaue, Yoane Wissa, parla dell'abuso dei social media
Calcio femminile: dov'è, dove è stato e dove andrà da qui?
La filosofia "moneyball" di Brentford ha la meglio sulle squadre con budget maggiori
Emiliano Martínez: L'arte di vincere ai rigori
Sébastien Haller: la stella del Borussia Dortmund riflette sul ritorno da favola dalla diagnosi di cancro ai testicoli
Merih Demiral: il calciatore turco fa squadra con Ronaldo, Messi e Mbappé per la raccolta fondi per il terremoto
Xherdan Shaqiri parla alla CNN del Chicago Fire e della Svizzera
Il proprietario del Wrexham AFC Rob McElhenney durante la corsa della squadra in FA Cup
Il CEO dello Shakhtar Donetsk parla delle sfide di giocare a calcio durante una guerra
Il Manchester United apre un negozio a Davos con una lounge di lusso nelle Alpi svizzere
Perché gli stadi high-tech sono "le nuove cattedrali"
Allenatore di calcio maschile degli Stati Uniti indagato per incidente nel 1991
(CNN)Potrebbe essere conosciuto come il "Pep Guardiola" del calcio africano, ma il mantra dell'allenatore di Al Ahly Pitso Mosimane è quello coniato dall'iconico Nelson Mandela.
"Sembra sempre impossibile finché qualcuno non lo fa", dice MosimaneCnn Sport.L'allenatore di 56 anni è seduto nel suo ufficio ai giganti del Cairo, con i famosi colori rosso, nero e bianco di Al Ahly blasonati sui muri intorno a lui.
Mosimane ha vinto un record di cinque scudetti in sette anni con il club sudafricano Mamelodi Sundowns, ha fatto parte dello staff tecnico del Bafana Bafana alla Coppa del Mondo FIFA inaugurale ospitata nel continente ed è diventato il primo allenatore nero di Al Ahly nel 2020.
Avrà ora l'opportunità di dimostrare il suo coraggio al mondo dopo aver guidato la squadra egiziana nella terra promessa del calcio di club mentre Al Ahly parteciperà alla FIFACoppa del mondo per club,che inizia in Qatar il 4 febbraio, quando gioca con l'Al Duhail SC.
Se l'Al Ahly vincerà quella partita, il club egiziano affronterà il Bayern Monaco per un posto in finale. Il Bayern sarà il favorito per vincere la semifinale, ma le aspettative sono sempre alte in un club come l'Al Ahly, che dice di avere 60 milioni di tifosi nel mondo arabo e di aver vinto 140 trofei.
Pitso John Mosimane, allenatore di al Ahly, guarda durante la partita finale tra Zamalek e al Ahly allo stadio del Cairo il 27 novembre 2020 al Cairo, Egitto.
Per saperne di più
Mosimane è cresciuto aSudafrica dell'apartheid,quindi è comprensibilmente orgoglioso dei suoi successi da allenatore, date le sue umili radici. Ed è proprio l'eredità di Mandela che giustamente lo ispira.
"Hai mai pensato, ai nostri tempi, che il Sudafrica possa avere un presidente nero come Nelson Mandela?" entusiasma Mosimane mentre riflette sulla vita di un uomo che è stato incarcerato per 27 anni. "Questa è una storia incredibile."
Lo stesso Mosimane ha raggiunto grandi vette e il suo tocco dorato ha visto tutte le squadre di club che ha allenato rivendicare l'argenteria. I suoi successi più orgogliosi sono arrivati quando ha conquistato la Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League in due diverse occasioni: prima con i Sundowns nel 2016 e poi con Al Ahly quattro anni dopo.
"Riesci a credere che qualcuno della township come me, dal background dell'apartheid, dalle umili origini, possa essere la prima persona a vincere la Champions League in Sud Africa? E vincerla due volte e diventare allenatore dell'anno nel continente ”, dice con quasi un senso di incredulità.
Il giocatore di al-Ahly Hussein El Shahat (L) e il capo allenatore Pitso Mosimane (R) festeggiano dopo aver vinto la partita di calcio finale della CAF Champions League Zamalek vs al-Ahly allo stadio internazionale del Cairo al Cairo, Egitto, 27 novembre 2020.
"Club del secolo"
La scorsa stagione, Mosimane ha fatto quello che nessuno nel calcio mondiale ha fatto fino ad oggi. Faceva parte di due squadre che si sono assicurate triple nei rispettivi paesi. In primo luogo, ha vinto tre trofei in Sud Africa, incluso il campionato, in quella che è ampiamente considerata la più forte competizione nazionale africana.
E poi ha seguito questo con Al Ahly, che lo ha portato alla corona continentale battendo l'arcirivale Zamalek 2-1 nella finale della CAF Champions League.
Al Ahly aveva infatti concluso il campionato con René Weiler, partito a fine stagione per stare con la sua famiglia in Svizzera, ma Mosimane ha ricevuto la medaglia del vincitore quando ha preso in mano la squadra per le ultime due partite di campionato della campagna e ha poi guidato i Red Devils verso un altro trionfo in Coppa d'Egitto.
"L'Al Ahly è un club che richiede successo, e in Egitto e in Africa è conosciuto come il club del secolo", ha spiegato l'ex nazionale egiziano diventato opinionista Yaser Elshanawany.
"C'è solo un altro club che ha vinto più trofei dell'Al Ahly al mondo ed è il Real Madrid, quindi quando ottieni questo lavoro c'è molta aspettativa".
"Dalle persone con cui ho parlato al club, mi dicono tutte che tecnicamente è molto forte e sa analizzare le altre squadre. Ma è molto amato dai giocatori e dal suo staff perché psicologicamente sa relazionarsi con loro, e costruire relazioni con loro", ha aggiunto Elshanawany.
Il capo allenatore del Sudafrica Pitso Mosimane osserva durante una sessione di formazione del Sudafrica allo Sturrock Park il 9 agosto 2010 a Johannesburg, in Sudafrica.
Mosimane ha ideato la sconfitta per 5-0 dei Sundowns contro i Red Devils nei quarti di finale della CAF Champions League 2019.
È stata una vittoria distintiva che ha messo in mostra l'abilità di Mosimane e ha anche convinto Al Ahly che non c'era bisogno di cercare un allenatore fuori dal continente.
Una delle stelle dei Sundowns negli ultimi anni è stato il centrocampista sudafricano Hlompho Kekana.
Ha visto in prima persona ciò che rende Mosimane l'allenatore che è, dato che ha fatto parte della dinastia dei Sundowns, incluso quel primo titolo della CAF Champions League.
"Pitso è ossessionato dal gioco, questo è ciò che gli dà il vantaggio", dice Kekana. "Scava più a fondo di chiunque altro con cui ho lavorato nel calcio.
"Non sono sorpreso di vedere i suoi successi. Ha instillato quella mentalità con i giocatori e ci viene detto di non vedere il calcio solo come una carriera, ma qualcosa che può cambiare il mondo.
"Siamo più che semplici giocatori di football, e ci ha detto che possiamo usare il calcio per ricevere un'istruzione e possiamo migliorare la nostra vita e quella di coloro che ci circondano".
L'allenatore dei Sundowns Pitso Mosimane reagisce dopo aver vinto la CAF Champions League dopo la finale tra Zamalek e Mamelodi Sundowns il 23 ottobre 2016 allo stadio Borg el-Arab vicino ad Alessandria.
Kekana capisce anche perché ci sono stati paragoni con il due volte vincitore della UEFA Champions League Guardiola, famoso per il calcio elegante e offensivo che ha allenato al Barcellona, al Bayern Monaco e ora al Manchester City.
"Non ho incontrato Pep, ma posso capire perché hanno somiglianze", dice Kekana.
"Entrambi giocano un gioco basato sul possesso palla, ma sono sempre alla ricerca della perfezione. Pitso ci ha sempre cercato per vincere le partite, ma ha sempre voluto che uscissimo ed esprimessimo noi stessi all'interno delle nostre strutture, senza mai sederci. Pressare alto e mantieni la pressione, non mollare mai, gioca ad alta intensità", ha detto il giocatore di Bafana Bafana.
È questo tipo di filosofia che il presidente di Al Ahly e grande club Mahmoud El Khatib aveva ammirato da lontano, e quando Weiler se ne andò con breve preavviso, "Bibo", come è affettuosamente chiamato, si trasferì per Mosimane.
"È una leggenda... è come se Kenny Dalglish diventasse presidente del Liverpool", spiega Mosimane, riferendosi all'ex scozzese che ha giocato e gestito il club inglese.
"La sua testa era sul blocco per aver nominato il primo allenatore sub-sahariano alla guida di Al Ahly ... Ora, ha dimostrato di aver ragione. Abbiamo vinto il trofeo e tutto va bene".
L'allenatore Pitso Mosimane dei Mamelodi Sundowns detiene il trofeo mentre la squadra arriva all'aeroporto di Tambo dopo essere stata incoronata campionessa della CAF Champions League 2016, a Johannesburg, in Sudafrica, il 26 ottobre 2016.
'C'è voluto troppo tempo'
Al Ahly non vinceva la CAF Champions League da sette anni e aveva perso due delle tre finali precedenti.
"Quindi dobbiamo adottare un approccio diverso e prendere qualcuno che conosca il continente, che ci viva".
Allenatori provenienti da Egitto, Europa e Sud America erano stati precedentemente nominati all'Ah Ahly, ma Mosimane è stato un passo in una nuova direzione: il sudafricano è diventato il primo nero e subsahariano a prendere in carico la squadra egiziana.
Mosimane ammette che probabilmente "ci è voluto troppo tempo" per nominare un allenatore nero al club, ma ha detto: "Non voglio soffermarmi così tanto sul perché. Ma è successo ora. Sono io. Io" m il 'Prescelto.' E quello che mi ha portato qui non è stato un movimento politico.
"Sono stato portato qui per i titoli che ho vinto perché ho sconfitto Al Ahly due volte e una delle migliori squadre qui a Zamalek. E loro mi conoscono. Conoscono il mio nome... non ha niente a che fare con il colore o politica."
Nonostante la stagione ricca di trofei di Mosimane, non è stato riconosciuto dalla FIFA nella rosa dei candidati per l'allenatore della stagione, poiché Jurgen Klopp del Liverpool si è assicurato il premio per il suo ottimo lavoro con il Liverpool quando i Reds hanno alzato il trofeo della Premier League per la prima volta: il club del club primo scudetto nazionale in 30 anni.
"La FIFA deve prendere in considerazione anche gli allenatori al di fuori dei candidati europei perché questi sono premi mondiali", ha affermato Mosimane dei FIFA's Best Football Awards, suggerendo che la Confederation of African Football (CAF) potrebbe fare pressioni sull'organo di governo mondiale per creare una rosa più "inclusiva" di allenatori, giocatori e club.
I sostenitori di Al-Ahly festeggiano al Cairo dopo che la loro squadra ha battuto Zamalek il 27 novembre 2020, Cairo, Egitto.
Mosimane ha anche fatto riferimento al successo dell'ex allenatore del Flamengo Jorge Jesus nella stagione 2018/2019, quando ha guidato il club di Rio al campionato brasiliano e anche alla Coppa Libertadores, la prestigiosa competizione sudamericana per club, ma non è stato riconosciuto dalla FIFA per il suo successo .
"Gesù, ora è l'allenatore del Benfica. Era l'allenatore del Flamengo, ha vinto molti trofei e meritava anche di essere nominato. Non si tratta solo di me. Ma va bene, dobbiamo andare avanti", ha aggiunto Mosimane.
In risposta alle critiche di Mosimane, la FIFA ha dichiarato: "La rosa dei candidati per i premi è stata selezionata da due gruppi di esperti: uno per il calcio femminile e uno per il calcio maschile.
"I due gruppi di esperti includono rappresentanti di alto profilo provenienti da tutte le regioni con l'obiettivo di garantire che i premi riflettano le opinioni del calcio mondiale. Detto questo, apprezziamo i commenti del signor Mosimane in quanto è importante che i protagonisti esprimano le loro opinioni sul processo ."
La CNN ha contattato CAF per un commento, ma non ha risposto a più richieste.
"Le nostre vite non dovrebbero riguardare i premi come allenatori, dobbiamo cambiare la vita delle persone", dice Mosimane, confermando ciò che Kekana aveva detto del suo ex mentore.
L'allenatore di Al Ahly Pitso Mosimane supervisiona la sessione di allenamento della sua squadra al Cairo.
'Le cose cambiano'
Il successo di Mosimane ha creato scalpore nel continente africano e molti hanno discusso se possa essere il primo africano a trasferirsi dal continente per allenare in uno dei maggiori campionati europei.
"È una possibilità? Sì", dice Mosimane, prima di aggiungere: "Dobbiamo essere realistici nel dire che l'Europa non ha molti allenatori africani.
"Non voglio politicizzare questo e renderlo un caso di giocare la carta della razza, ma alcune cose devono essere dette così come sono.
"Ma credo solo che un medico che viene dal Sud Africa sia lo stesso medico che si trova in Europa. Credo che un architetto che si è qualificato in Sud Africa sia un architetto in Europa. Quindi non capisco quando si tratta di allenare il calcio, perché queste cose vengono viste in modo diverso.
"Voglio dire, non puoi dirmi tutti questi grandi giocatori, giocatori africani, che hanno vinto la Champions League in Europa, che vivono lì e nessuno di quegli africani può avere l'opportunità di allenare.
"Forse nella generazione dei nostri figli, le cose possono cambiare. Le cose cambiano... Ma prima, l'Europa deve accettare e dare possibilità agli africani nati in Europa, prima di poter parlare di avere una possibilità... quindi è una lunga strada. "
Mosimane non ha bisogno di ricordare che l'apartheid è durato quasi cinque decenni in Sud Africa, o che Al Ahly ha impiegato più di 100 anni per nominare il suo primo allenatore nero.
Sebbene sia realista riguardo all'opportunità di ottenere un'opportunità nei più grandi campionati del mondo, essendo sopravvissuto all'apartheid e ritagliandosi successi in tutto il continente africano, Mosimane trae forza da questo: "Mai, mai, mai sottovalutare un sudafricano nero che viene dalla township ."
E dopo aver visto cosa ha fatto Mosimane, forse è solo una questione di tempo prima che il "Prescelto" rompa un altro soffitto di vetro.