‘Fire In The House’: Ouaddou Reflects On Early Pressure
Orlando Pirates coach Abdelsam Ouaddou says that when his team lost their first two league matches of the season, it felt as though “the house was on fire.”
Ouaddou guided Pirates to their second trophy in four months when the Soweto giants beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 in the Carling Knockout Cup final at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
Their first trophy came in September, when Pirates lifted the MTN8 title for the fourth time after defeating Stellenbosch FC at Mbombela Stadium.
Pirates now head into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations break sitting at the top of the Betway Premiership with 28 points from 12 matches, two points ahead of second-placed defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
However, reaching this position was not without difficulties. Ouaddou, who replaced the much-loved José Riveiro in the off-season, found himself under early pressure after losing the opening match at home to Sekhukhune United and then falling to Gallants away.
It was the first time since the 2008/09 season under Ruud Krol that Pirates had lost their opening two league games—an alarming start that immediately raised concerns.
Just as Pirates showed patience with Krol, who later delivered the treble in the 2010/11 season, they stood by Ouaddou. With two trophies already secured this season, there is growing talk that Pirates might once again challenge for a treble.
“Yes, losing those two matches put me under pressure,” admitted Ouaddou. “When you lose two games at a big club, there’s immediately a fire in the house.
“You need to find solutions. Of course, I won’t lie to you and say I didn’t feel the pressure. But I feel pressure in every game.
“When you stop feeling pressure in this job, that’s when you need to walk away. Positive pressure helps you perform and get better.”
Another factor behind Pirates’ slow start was the integration of several new signings, which took time to settle.
“But if we go back to the beginning, when you have 10 new players, they need time to understand your ideas and your game model,” Ouaddou explained.
“I think the guys did well because they quickly understood what was expected. At some clubs, it can take two, three, even four months for players to adapt.
“So I’m quietly satisfied with how the club reacted because their support helped us achieve results.
“You know what’s also important? Trust. I’m very lucky to be at a club run by professional people who think football, who have a vision and a project, and who know exactly what targets they want to reach.
“These two losses were part of the process, and they gave me time. At some other clubs, you lose one or two games and you’re out.
“That’s what gives me passion and trust to work with management—they know football, and they know the process sometimes takes a little bit of time before results come.”
