Like a seasoned naval captain, Pitso Mosimane guided his Abha club to safety in the Saudi Pro League over the weekend. South Africa won 2-1 against Al Fateh on Sunday. The result was a much-needed relief from last week's 8-0 loss to Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nasr. Nevertheless, the rescue mission for the award-winning South African coach is far from over. Most of the remaining six games will decide the team's fight against relegation.
The rescue operation for the Saudi Pro League is not over yet.
The former Al Ahly coach joined the Abha club on a short-term contract in January this year. A few months after parting ways with Al Wahda in November 2023, he was tasked with saving the Saudi Pro League club from relegation.
Mosimane's second home home in the Saudi Pro League
It was a return home for Mosimane, who first arrived in Saudi Arabia last year after opting for a job with Al Ahli Saudi. He was tasked with taking the club from the second division to the Saudi Pro League. Despite calmly accomplishing the task, management fired him. The Kagiso-born trainer eventually moved to the United Arab Emirates. Little did he know he would be making a U-turn to Saudi Arabia. This time it's Abha Club.
The mission is similar to Saudi Arabia's al-Ahly.
The coach's mission at Abha club, which is linked to Kaizer Chiefs, is similar to his previous mission at Al Ahly Saudi. That's why Mosimane must have been satisfied with the weekend's result, which pushed his ward into 15th place.th Place it two places up on the log table. It was his third win in eight games leading the Saudi Pro League side.
Looking back at the remaining 6 games
Only a few points separate them from Abha Club in 16th place.–Al-Oqudud moved up in the standings, just two points behind second-bottom Al-Tay. Al Hazm has scored 16 points in 27 games and is the anchor of the 17-member squad. Mosimane's next league match will be at home against Shabab Club on Thursday 18 April 2024. Five more tricky games will then follow to ensure survival from relegation.
The only advantage for Mosimane's side is that they have more home games remaining compared to fellow struggling sides. The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach will play four of their remaining six games at home. In contrast, Al Tay has four missions on the expedition, while Al Hazm has three missions in its backyard.
The complete list of remaining matches for Abha Club, Altay and Alhazm in the Saudi Pro League is below.
Abha Club vs:
Shabab Club: Home, April 18th
Al Okdood: away, April 27
Al Ittihad: Home, May 3rd
Damac: Home, May 9th.
Al Ahly Saudi: Away, 16 May
Al-Khalij: Home, May 23rd
Altai vs:
Al Riyadh: away, April 19th
Al Fayha: away, April 25th
Al-Khalij: Home, May 4th
Al Raed: away, 9 May
Al Fateh: Home, May 16th
Al Ahli Saudi: Away, 23 May
Al Hazm vs.
Al Ittihad: Home, April 20th
Al Weda: away, April 25th
Al Akhdud: Home, May 2nd
Al Hilal: Away, May 9th
Al Riyadh: Home, May 16th
Al Fateh: away, 23 May