‘Don’t Write Them Off’: Ouaddou Makes Surprising Chiefs Claim
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has refused to rule Kaizer Chiefs out of the Betway Premiership title race despite extending his winning record against Amakhosi in the Soweto Derby.
Ouaddou was speaking after Pirates secured a 2-1 victory over Chiefs in Saturday’s Soweto Derby, with the Buccaneers continuing their push for the league title.
The victory marked the second time Ouaddou has beaten Amakhosi in the league since taking charge of Pirates last season. His first victory came in the first round of the previous campaign, while the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in their second meeting.
Despite getting the better of their rivals once again, the Pirates coach was full of praise for the work being done by the Chiefs technical team and insisted that they should not be written off in the title race.
“Looking at the game from the outside, I think the Kaizer Chiefs technical team is doing a great job. We must allow them to work and implement their game model,” he said.
“They have a very good team with talented young players. In my opinion, they are on the right path, and we should not write them off in the title race. This is a big club with a big fanbase, and the technical team is doing a great job.”
Chiefs have endured a difficult period in their pursuit of league honours, having struggled to consistently challenge for the Premiership title in recent seasons.
Their last serious title challenge came during the 2019/20 campaign under then-head coach Ernst Middendorp, when they narrowly missed out on the championship. Amakhosi last lifted the league trophy in the 2014/15 season under the guidance of Stuart Baxter.
This season, Chiefs find themselves fifth in the league standings with 14 points from nine matches. They are 12 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have collected 26 points, and 11 points adrift of second-placed Pirates, who have 25 points.
However, Ouaddou believes the quality of the Soweto Derby demonstrated the potential of South African football to produce matches of the highest standard, describing Saturday’s encounter as being on a Champions League level.
“If I had to rate this game, I would say it was a Champions League-level encounter,” he added.
“Both teams had their moments. Chiefs had the first half, when they could have killed the game, while we had the second half. You could see the intensity and the magnitude of the occasion.
“I am very proud when I see such an event in South Africa. It is an example that many African countries should look at.
“What a derby! There was no fighting, and people were watching the game together. Of course, there is rivalry, but seeing supporters watching the match together was fantastic. It is unique in South Africa.”
Meanwhile, Chiefs will have an opportunity to return to winning ways when they resume their league campaign on 28 November with an away fixture against Chippa United in the Eastern Cape.
Amakhosi will be eager to bounce back from their Soweto Derby defeat while also seeking revenge against the Chilli Boys, who beat them in their final league fixture of last season.
