Former Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane Former Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane as left his position with Iranian giants Esteghlal over unpaid salaries. Photo: Khaled Desouki/AFP
Image: Khaled Desouki/AFP
Former Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane has walked away from his job with Iranian club Esteghlal due to unpaid salaries.
Mosimane only joined Esteghlal in October last year, and was tasked with helping navigate the club through stormy waters in the AFC Champions League and to retain the Persian Gulf Pro League title.
However, with the club sitting 11th in the league, and fighting for survival in the continental competition, Mosimane has decided to leave the Capital Blues as he was owed money.
“Despite numerous opportunities provided by MT Sports Marketing and Management, Coach Pitso’s management team, to resolve the matter — starting with initial discussions with the former CEO of the club last year, followed by a formal default notice delivered on 1 January 2025 —Esteghlal FC failed to address the issue,” Mosimane’s management team said in a statement on Wednesday.
“In good faith, Coach Pitso and the Technical Team extended a 15-day deadline as per the FIFA rules, to allow the new CEO and Board time to familiarise themselves with the situation and remedy the outstanding payments. However, the club did not resolve the issue within the deadlines they had set for themselves,” he said.
“Coach Pitso Mosimane and his technical team are still owed more than two months’ salaries. Coach Pitso deeply appreciated the players, whose commitment and talent made every challenge worthwhile.
“Esteghlal FC remains a contender for the AFC Champions League, with the highlight being the draw against the star-studded Al Ahli FC in Saudi Arabia, also a former team of Coach Mosimane, which he assisted in promoting back to the Saudi Pro League,” he added.
In 2022, Mosimane left the Saudi club for the same reasons.
One of South Africa's most decorated head coaches, Mosimane has won three CAF Champions League titles throughout his career, as well as a plethora of league titles with his previous clubs.
IOL Sport