Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has disclosed how the late coach Sam Arday’s ‘multi-system formation’ helped shape his coaching philosophy.
The South African coach continues to etch his name on the golden book of African football as he guides the Egyptian giants to CAF Champions league final for the second consecutive season.
Mosimane is having a wonderful stint with the Cairo-based outfit since joining them in September 2020 after leaving home side Mamelodi Sundowns.
So far, he won the Egypt Cup, the league title, the CAF Champions league last season, a third-place finish in the FIFA Club World Cup and the CAF Super Cup this year.
By leading Al Ahly to another continental final, Mosimane becomes the second coach in the club’s history to qualify the Red Devils to CAF Champions League final for two seasons in a row.
The first to do it was Portuguese manager Manuel Jose who won five CAF Champions League trophies with the Devils castle in 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2012.
This marks their third trophy under South African coach Pitso Mosimane, who lifted the Champions League as well as the Egypt Cup and finished third in the Club World Cup.
Mosimane is also on his way to his second glory with Al Ahly as they set up meeting with Kaizer Chiefs on July 17.
Reacting to a post on Twitter by a Ghanaian sports journalist who listed his achievements in CAF’s prestigious inter-club competition since taking the reins of Al Ahly, Mosimane waxed lyrical over the late Sam Arday, and indicated the part the former Ghana trainer played in his formative years in coaching.
Arday was the coach of Ghana Olympic Team, which won the Olympic Bronze Soccer Medal at Barcelona 1992, the first for an African country, and coach of Ghana national under-20 football team.
His Black Satellites won the Bronze Medal at 1991 Africa Youth Championship in Egypt after beating Zambia 2:0 in the 3rd and 4th Place Match.
Arday then became head coach of the Ghana national under-17 football team, the Black Starlets, who won the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship Trophy in Ecuador and the African Under-17 Championship in Mali.
On the local scene, he coached teams like AshantiGold, Asante Kotoko, Okwawu United and Feynoord.
He was the Technical Director of Ghana Premier League side West Africa Football Academy at the time of his death in February 12, 2017.