“A Surprise For You”: Ouaddou Teases Tactical Masterclass For Soweto Derby

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has teased a “surprise” tactical shift ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium.

Ouaddou will be aiming for his second victory as Pirates coach, having secured a 3–0 win in the reverse fixture in February.

Pirates currently sit at the top of the Betway Premiership standings after 25 matches.

Ouaddou said their strategy for this clash will remain under wraps but promised a competitive performance.

“I’ll let you discover our strategy in the derby,” said Ouaddou.

“It would be too easy if I revealed all our objectives and how we want to play. I think it will be a surprise. What I can say is that we will field a competitive team and we are definitely playing for a win, especially in a match of this magnitude.

“We are going to play to win.”

Ouaddou added that while past results are encouraging, this derby presents a completely different challenge.

“You need a lot of humility,” he said.

“As soon as you achieve a target and stop working, that’s the beginning of the end.

“For us, it’s about staying humble. The previous result is behind us — this is a different game, with a different context and environment. We are in good shape, but our focus is on how we approach the match: how we can unsettle the opponent and exploit their weaknesses.

“How we want to score goals, how we want to win, how we want to defend, and how we want to stay organised.”

This fixture marks the 185th meeting between the Soweto rivals, with Chiefs leading the charge with wins.