The Saudi Pro League is currently on a mid-season break, but Pitso Mosimane will have a big job on his hands as he attempts to save Abha Club from relegation! Here are 10 high-profile stars the South African will go up against in his team's run-in to the end of the season.
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"Jingles", as he is affectionately known in Mzansi, has committed to a short-term agreement with Saudi outfit Abha Club, who, with only 14 points after 19 matches, are occupying second-last spot on the table. Keeping the side in Saudi Arabia's top division will be difficult, so Mosimane will be thrilled he doesn't have any world-class footballers to go up against between now and the end of the season... not!
Looking at Abha Club's fixtures, encounters against top sides such as Al Ettifaq, Al Ittihad, Al Nassr and Al Ahli – a team he has managed previously – still await the 59-year-old. Mosimane's record in Saudi Arabia is impressive, having helped Al Ahli to promotion back to the Gulf country's top flight in 2023. Unfortunately, though, the former Mamelodi Sundowns boss wasn't able to stick around for the club's financial takeover, which has elevated their status dramatically this term.
While every SPL match to come for Mosimane's team will undoubtedly be tough, his first meeting with some big names will be when Abha Club are away to Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq, which boasts former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, on 9 March. The 33-year-old is in his first season in Saudi Arabia, and has contributed to nine goals in 16 appearances across all competitions so far this term.
Mosimane will then come face to face with former Kaizer Chiefs forward Knowledge Musona early in April, with the Zimbabwean forward currently playing for Al Riyadh. The 33-year-old has scored just once this season for his club, but continues to captain his teammates. A week later, though, is the really big one! Abha Club will host Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr on 11 April in the league, in what is likely to be a match most of us in South Africa will be paying close attention to. Ronaldo has been in incredible form in this campaign, having netted 20 times already in the Saudi Pro League. And if that isn't enough to leave Mosimane wary, he'll also likely have Sadio Mane to contend with!
In May, meanwhile, Abha Club will be meeting league champions Al Ittihad. While their season has been in stark contrast to last term, the Saudi giants would expect to cruise to victory against Mosimane's men, especially as they boast legendary footballers such as Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante, as well as ex-Liverpool defensive midfielder Fabinho.
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Mosimane's third-last league clash of the campaign will be against Al Ahli, whom he coached between 2022 and 2023. Back then, the South African tactician didn't have a selection of superstars to call upon every week, and might find that to be a big motivating factor when he returns to his former ground late in May. For this particular game, he will have to ensure his players are well prepared when they do battle with top professionals such as Riyad Mahrez, Franck Kessie and Roberto Firmino.
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