“Destiny Is At Our Feet”: Ouaddou

Orlando Pirates coach Abdelsam Ouaddou says he is focused on his own team rather than worrying about title rivals Mamelodi Sundowns, because the league’s destiny remains in Pirates’ hands.

Sundowns briefly extended their lead at the top of the table to six points after being involved in a chaotic 7-4 victory over Siwelele at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Pirates responded hours later by hammering struggling bottom side Magesi FC 3-0 at Peter Mokaba Stadium to keep pace with Sundowns.

The Soweto giants, who have scored 56 goals, boast a superior goal difference of +44 after conceding just 12 goals all season.

Sundowns, meanwhile, have scored 55 goals and conceded 18, giving them a goal difference of +37.

With one game remaining for Miguel Cardoso’s side — against TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday — Sundowns would need to score at least seven more goals to stand a chance of retaining the league title, while also hoping Pirates fail to win either of their remaining two matches.

However, the title race is no longer entirely in Sundowns’ hands, with Pirates still having two games in hand.

Both sides can finish the season on 71 points, but Pirates’ superior goal difference puts them in pole position to clinch their first league title since the 2011/12 season.

That is why Ouaddou, who was appointed at the beginning of the season, is not paying too much attention to Sundowns, as long as Pirates take care of business in their own matches.

“We are focused on ourselves,” said Ouaddou.

“The destiny is in our hands. We are focused on how we want to play and how we want to be organised. You can see a strong Pirates side — we don’t concede goals, and we score goals.

“I told the boys to focus on how we want to play. We don’t expect anything from anybody; we are really confident about what we want to achieve.

“We feel strong. We are going to prepare for the next games with a lot of focus in front of our fans. We will give everything.”

Pirates broke records when they defeated Stellenbosch FC midweek by achieving the highest points tally in the PSL’s 30-game format. They also saw Sipho Chaine equal Ronwen Williams’ 18 clean sheets from the 2022/23 season before surpassing the mark when they defeated Magesi on Saturday.

Pirates will host Durban City on 16 May before concluding the campaign away to Orbit College FC.

Both matches appear winnable for Pirates.

“I think 3-0 was a good score, and we keep building, we keep moving forward,” Ouaddou said about the importance of the win over Magesi.

“I told you at the beginning of the season, and again in the middle of the season, that the title would be decided at the end of the campaign. And that is the case.

“Orlando Pirates are doing well. We are going to prepare for the next games with a lot of seriousness because they will be very important in front of our fans. The last two games will be crucial for us in the title race.”