Ouaddou Backs Seema For ‘Great Future’ After Bafana Debut
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has backed defender Lebone Seema to enjoy a bright future, praising his professionalism, willingness to learn and impressive development following his breakthrough into the Bafana Bafana setup.
Seema has enjoyed a remarkable rise since joining the Buccaneers from TS Galaxy in a surprise move ahead of last season, having struggled to secure regular playing time at his former club.
The 23-year-old quickly established himself at Pirates, playing an important role in their successful campaign as they clinched a treble comprising the MTN8, Carling Knockout and Betway Premiership titles. His outstanding performances also earned him the individual Defender of the Season award.
Seema’s consistency last season, coupled with his impressive performances for the Buccaneers this term, caught the attention of Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane, who included the defender in his squad for the recently concluded FIFA international break.
The Pirates defender made his international debut against Eritrea, coming off the bench to play the final 16 minutes before completing the full 90 minutes against Egypt. He kept clean sheets in both matches, making an impressive start to his international career and earning praise from his club coach.
Speaking about Seema’s development following Pirates’ disappointing 2-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final on Saturday, Ouaddou highlighted the importance of hard work, discipline and a willingness to accept criticism.
“Seema has done a lot of work with seriousness and professionalism. If you want to reach the highest level, first of all, you need to work every day, listen and be coachable,” said Ouaddou.
“He is a fantastic boy. He accepts criticism, he listens, and he keeps moving forward.
“I remember last season against Golden Arrows, I tried to help him become more efficient. I always tell him that, of course, playing beautiful football is important. You must keep your quality, find players between the lines, and play short or long passes.
“But at the highest level, sometimes you have to be tough and efficient. There is no shame in putting the ball into the stands if you want to keep a clean sheet.
“That is part of your job, and I call it an emergency. As a defender, you cannot always play the ball out cleanly.
“He has improved a lot. Now he can play clean football, but he can also be tough and strong on the ball, not on the opponent’s ankle. I do not teach that to my players.
“Step by step, he has become a real high-level defender. I am sure there is still room for improvement, and I predict a great future for him if he continues to work hard and listen throughout his career.”
Ouaddou’s comments underline the progress Seema has made since arriving at Pirates, where his ability to adapt, learn and meet the demands of top-level football has helped him establish himself as an important member of the squad.
The defender will have another opportunity to build on his impressive form when Pirates face his former club, TS Galaxy, in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday.
Seema will be eager to maintain his high standards and deliver another strong performance as the Buccaneers look to bounce back from their MTN8 final disappointment.
Having already made an encouraging start to his international career, the 23-year-old will also be determined to continue improving and cement his place in the Pirates starting line-up while strengthening his prospects of earning further Bafana Bafana call-ups.
