The factors behind Pitso Mosimane's short-lived stay with Al Wahda in the UAE Pro League have been put on the table.
Mosimane was appointed as the Al Wahda coach in June 2023 but parted ways with the club on November 10, joining Arno Biutenweg (twice), Manolo Jimenez (twice), Carlos Carvalhal, Gregory Dufrennes, Henk ten Cate, Vuk Rasovic, and Mark Wotte since the calendar turned to 2020.
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Al Wahda pushed Mosimane out despite winning six and losing four in domestic competitions while at the club.
"Pitso was in the kind of country where he needed to get going right away, considering all the factors involved in coaching in the Gulf Region and their understanding of the game," says former Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United striker Dario Monteiro.
Monteiro spent time playing for Al Wahda's crosstown rivals Al Jazira and so understands what happens in Abu Dhabi.
The former Mozambican international joined Al Jazira as replacement for George Weah who played in the UAE before he retired.
"When there is money that has been invested the expectation is that there should be immediate results.
"This means the coach and the players need to be together from the word go.
"In Pitso's case he didn't have any influence in the recruitment of the players that were part of his squad, so he was open to many negative factors affecting his job.
"The majority of the players are Emirati and speak Arabic then there are a few foreign players coming from all over.
"If you don't get going right away then they are bound to view you as being someone who cannot take the team forward.
"The management at a team like Al Wahda controls the team because they don't have much of fans at those clubs in Emirati.
"The only way is to connect with the players otherwise they will kick you out, so it is important to at least have players on your side.
"Without having players on your side, it means chances of results are slim which then gives management the ammunition to push you out once results are not forthcoming.
"Since most of the players are Arabic it means you are the one who must try to fit into the culture, make sacrifices, and always be understanding towards their requests.
"If they say you must pray, then you must allow them.
"The professionalism in that part of the world is not that high when it comes to football.
"It is not easy to coach there, which is why a lot of coaches come under pressure when they go there.
"The Arab owners of those clubs just want results from the coach without looking at the application of the players, some of whom are not always available for training.
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"With coach Pitso, he came from a culture of wanting to win and doing it with professionalism but then went on to a club aiming for success with diluted professionalism.
"The bottom is that they have money and that is a huge pull factor despite all other factors," says Monteiro.
Mosimane is already linked with a return to Saudi Arabia with Abha Club his likely next destination, having previously worked at Al Ahli Jeddah.