Clash of Titans: Pitso Mosimane to battle Patrice Motsepe in

Picture courtesy: (Gallo) Pitso Mosimane and Patrice Motsepe: A tumultuous journey from collaboration to courtroom.

Phetolo Sematha

(The Post News)– In the world of South African football, a storm has been brewing. Two prominent figures, Pitso Mosimane, the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach, and Patrice Motsepe, the club’s former chairman, are locked in a dispute that has captured the nation’s attention. Pitso Mosimane has summoned former club chairman Patrice Motsepe to court.

The legal issue between them has been ongoing since Mosimane left Sundowns to join Egyptian giants Al Ahly prior to the 2020–21 season. The dispute centers around an R8 million claim by Sundowns, which they believe covers the remaining months of Mosimane’s long-term deal and the remaining 44 months of Mosimane’s recently signed extended contract. This claim was formalized when Sundowns filed court papers ordering Mosimane to pay back R8 million linked to his R1.5 million salary he received after signing a deal with the club.

In an interview with News24 in 2022, Mosimane was quoted as saying, “Against me? My opinion. Yes. Because I am the coach of Al Ahly,” he said, expressing his belief that there are ulterior motives against him. What makes me feel like that? It’s not all about that; it’s all the things that are happening every time in the Champions League when I’m playing. I am never at peace.”

He also revealed that the lawyers of the Motsepe family have been sending him letters before big matches, a move he finds suspicious. “But it is a court case. Do I really want to go to court? I don’t want to, but if I want to protect my name and justify it, I will go to court. This is bad for football,” he concluded.

Mosimane, on the other hand, has stood his ground, resulting in a legal confrontation that has escalated to court proceedings.

This ongoing dispute continues to cast a shadow over the world of football.

The court case is set to be a landmark event in South African football. In a report by The South African, a subpoena was applied by Mosimane’s law firm, Mabuza Attorneys, which is owned by Mosimane’s wife, Moira Tlhagale. The subpoena stipulates that “Motsepe is required to appear in court at the corner of Von Brandis and Pritchard streets in person on Monday, April 29, at 10 a.m. Thereafter, remain in attendance until excused by the court. The subpoena compels the mining magnate to testify on behalf of the coach and the agency. Motsepe has been warned that if he fails to appear in court on the scheduled date, he will render himself liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.”

The ongoing dispute between Mosimane and Motsepe is more than just a personal disagreement. It has raised questions about the governance of football clubs, the treatment of coaches, and the role of money in the sport. As the legal proceedings continue, the football community will be watching closely, waiting to see how this saga unfolds.