The clash between renowned South African coach Pitso Mosimane and Iranian football giants Esteghlal Tehran has quickly escalated, following Mosimane's decision to unilaterally terminate his contract due to unpaid salaries.
Ali Nazari Joubari, the newly appointed general manager of Esteghlal, has been at the centre of this heated fallout. In a series of scathing remarks made after Mosimane's dismissal, Joubari attacked the decision to hire the South African coach in the first place, expressing his dissatisfaction with the choice.
According to Joubari, the recruitment of Mosimane was a mistake from the outset, claiming that the club should have never turned to a coach from South Africa.
"From the beginning, some were promoting the idea that we brought the African lion to Iran, but in fact he is a weak coach, and has been dismissed several times before," Joubari said in a press statement following Mosimane's departure.
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The general manager's remarks continued with a stark criticism of Mosimane's nationality and background, with Joubari questioning why Esteghlal opted to hire a coach from a region he considered to have less football pedigree than Iran.
"Why did we have to contract a coach from Africa? Or even from a weaker football country than Iran? We previously kept quiet so as not to affect the stability of the team, but I was sure that he would not succeed," Joubari stated.
Joubari's frustration seemed to stem from what he perceived as a failure to bring in a coach with the requisite "football identity" that he believed would benefit the team.
"Instead of bringing in a coach from a country with a clear football identity, we brought in a coach from a place to which Iran should export coaches," he added.
On the other hand, Mosimane's decision to end his relationship with the club was not one made lightly.
The former Al Ahly coach had spent just 15 matches with Esteghlal, with a mixed record that included three wins, eight draws, and four losses. Despite his past successes in Africa, including several continental titles with Al Ahly, the Iranian club and Mosimane's working relationship appeared to be fraught with complications, particularly around financial issues, leading to his eventual contract termination.
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