Retired midfielder Andile Jali has described former coach Pitso Mosimane as widely misunderstood, despite enjoying a productive and successful working relationship with him during their time together.
The pair spent five years at Mamelodi Sundowns between 2018 and 2023, a period in which Jali played a key role in the club’s domestic dominance. After joining from Belgian side KV Oostende, the midfielder made 143 appearances and helped the team secure five league titles.
Speaking on the Arena Sports Show, the 35-year-old reflected on Mosimane’s coaching methods, suggesting that some players fail to grasp his approach and, as a result, miss valuable opportunities to grow under his guidance.
Jali said Mosimane deliberately challenged players to test their mentality and character, rather than simply judging them on ability alone.
“It was nice [relationship with Pitso],” said Jali.
“You know that coach people misunderstand him but Pitso is a coach that just when you think he doesn’t want you today, tomorrow he wakes up and says I want you. He’ll catch you off guard to say I’m not starting you this weekend but he takes you to camp.
“Then when you check the starting XI, you are starting. That’s how he catches you off guard to say I want to see what kind of a person are you. So people lose a lot from coach Pitso thinking he was saying they are not good enough to play for him.”
Mosimane, who also coached Egyptian giants Al Ahly, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most accomplished managers. However, Jali’s comments suggest that his man-management style may not always be fully appreciated by those he works with.
The former midfielder explained that the unpredictability of Mosimane’s selections was intentional, designed to push players beyond their comfort zones. According to Jali, this approach required patience and resilience—qualities not all players were willing to demonstrate.
“So, when you say I’m waiting, any day when you say I’m there I’m waiting for that day he says come then you enter. Then you are done because with me, he’d take me from home and then in the starting XI, from starting XI then home again, not even the bench, home again.
“It was like that with me and him and I was not even asking him why are you doing this because I knew that he’s doing this to make me angry.”
Jali’s reflections highlight the psychological dimension of elite coaching, where selection decisions can serve as a tool for motivation rather than simply a reflection of form.
Despite the challenges, his tenure under Mosimane proved highly successful, both individually and collectively, suggesting that the coach’s methods—while sometimes difficult to interpret—can yield significant rewards for those who adapt to them.
