“Like Morocco Without The World Cup” – Ouaddou Demands Pirates Redirection After Last Year’s Heartbreak
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is determined to guide the Buccaneers back to the CAF Champions League group stages as they prepare to face African Stars on Friday evening.
Pirates will host the Namibian side at Orlando Amstel Arena in the second leg of their second preliminary-round tie, holding a 1-0 aggregate lead following their away victory last weekend.
The 47-year-old Moroccan coach is eager to make amends after Pirates failed to reach the group stages last season, during his first campaign in charge, following their defeat to Congolese outfit FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo in the second preliminary round.
Ouaddou has emphasised the importance of qualifying for the group stages, insisting that a club of Pirates’ stature belongs among Africa’s biggest teams in the continent’s premier club competition.
“Indeed, qualifying for the group stages was a very big objective for the club. You know that Orlando Pirates are one of the biggest clubs on the continent, a giant in African football,” he said.
“Last season, we suffered a setback against Lupopo. This season, we want to get revenge by returning to the group stages and performing well.
“I believe the players are fully focused and committed to this task. Our partners, our supporters and the entire club community are also united behind this objective.
“On Friday, our players know that we have a very important target: to win the match and secure our place in the CAF Champions League group stages.
“I said to the players, jokingly, that without Pirates in the Champions League, it is like Morocco not being at the FIFA World Cup. We need big teams in big competitions.”
The Buccaneers last won the CAF Champions League in 1995, the only time the Soweto giants have lifted the continental title. Ouaddou has stressed the importance of delivering a positive result for their supporters.
“We played a very difficult game in Botswana under tough conditions, but the players gave everything and came back with a positive result,” he added.
“We can say that we have the second half here, and we have to succeed in getting through to the next stage. The preparation went well. The most important thing was to focus on the players’ recovery.
“We also had two sessions to make tactical adjustments based on what we saw in the first game and how we can unsettle that team.
“The boys are ready to return to the Champions League. We need to win this second half, and we will do everything in terms of commitment and organisation to get through to the next stage for our fans.
“Last season, qualifying was one of the targets we did not achieve. I think our fans deserve this competition, so we are going to give everything to make them happy.”
With a one-goal advantage heading into Friday’s encounter, Pirates will look to finish the job at home and secure their place in the next round as they continue their pursuit of a return to the CAF Champions League group stages.
