Henry’s Advice, Michael Jackson Moves, And Second-Half Magic: Inside Ouaddou’s Soweto Derby Triumph
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou admitted that his intense emotions during Saturday’s Soweto Derby stem from a relentless drive for perfection, revealing how a pre-match conversation with global football icon Thierry Henry resonated with his managerial philosophy.
Pirates claimed a dramatic 2–1 victory over arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium in the 186th edition of South Africa’s flagship fixture—marking the 80th meeting between the sides at the iconic venue.
However, the Moroccan-born strategist acknowledged that his initial tactical gamble backfired in the opening 45 minutes. Attempting to compensate for the absence of first-choice right-back Kamogelo Sebelebele—who suffered an injury in last month’s MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns—Ouaddou deployed regular left-back Deon Hotto on the right flank.
With Chiefs dominating the first half, Ouaddou made a decisive tactical adjustment: withdrawing left-back Nkosikhona Ndaba, shifting substitute Ghampani Lungu to right-back, and restoring Hotto to his natural position on the left. The mid-game correction paid immediate dividends as the Buccaneers took control in the second half to secure all three points.
When the final whistle blew, an overwhelmed Ouaddou celebrated with arms outstretched before joining his players in front of the Buccaneers’ supporters, even breaking into a dance to a Michael Jackson classic.
Post-match, Ouaddou reflected on the immense pressure and emotional demands of leading one of Africa’s biggest clubs.
“Look, it is not easy to do this job,” said Ouaddou.
“When you have played for 17 years, and then you decide to coach a big club like Orlando Pirates, and you want all the time the best for your team, for your club, I am pushed by excellence. It is funny because I had a friend, Thierry Henry, here, and I was reading his book.”
Henry, a World Cup winner with France and global ambassador for league sponsors Betway, was spotted sharing a deep pre-match discussion with Ouaddou on the touchline.
“He was saying that his father was never happy with him when he was young, when he was playing for the youth team in Paris. I think it was Clairefontaine. He was scoring four, five goals, but when it came to his house, he was expecting his father to congratulate him. But to him that was not enough; he should have scored more,” said Ouaddou.
“I like to push my players all the time to excellence, to be better and better, because, big brother, as a coach, we want the best for my players. But on the side, you can see the emotions of somebody who wants to win.”
Addressing how his passionate style impacts the squad, Ouaddou added: “Sometimes, in some players, depending on the profile of the players, my emotions can push them to be the best. But for some who are here and showing a weak mentality, when they see the emotions of the coach, they can be a little surprised.
“But there are a lot of emotions under pressure, and you have to manage these emotions.”
