Pitso unbothered by unruly fan abuse ahead of Sundowns showdown: 'I spent my life there'

Pitso Mosimane was heckled, booed and sworn at in disgraceful scenes when his Egyptian side Al Ahly visited his old team Mamelodi Sundowns during the CAF Champions League in May last year.

A section of unruly, embarrassing Sundowns fans stormed the visiting bus in Atteridgeville Pretoria, raising placards with obscenities and epithets directed at their former multiple Premier Soccer League and CAF Champions League-winning coach.

It didn't deter Al Ahly from claiming a 3-1 aggregate victory over The Brazilians, regardless, which propelled the Egyptians towards another continental triumph with a 3-0 victory over fellow South African giants Kaizer Chiefs in July's final.

Mosimane will be on the touchline again when Al Ahly and Sundowns clash in this year's group stages, starting with the matchup in Cairo on 25 February.

But it's the 11 March clash in South Africa that was the subject of some angst.

"You can't get worried about what you can't control," Mosimane told the South African Football Journalists Association (Safja) on Wednesday.

"I was at that team for eight years. I know the club in and out, and I know what happened and who organised it. I know everything.

"Maybe you guys look at the supporters and say it's them, but they are being told what to do. Supporters don't do that.

"There are no supporters who can rally around when there is no movement. There was a [directive].

"I was sworn at in the corridors when players were lining up to play. Even Sundowns players were disappointed at that particular person who was swearing.

"[A Sundowns official] was swearing at me in my language, and of course, Al Ahly players didn't understand it. I was the only one who could.

"But at that time, I was in my zone and that's to focus on the