“It Was Karate, Not Football” – Abdeslam Ouaddou Blasts Chiefs Tactics

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou described the Soweto Derby as “karate” after a bruising encounter against Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday, criticizing the overly physical approach that overshadowed the spectacle.

The highly anticipated clash delivered intensity from the opening whistle, but much of the focus shifted to physical battles rather than flowing football.

Pirates’ key attacking threats—Relebohile Mofokeng, Tshepang Moremi, and Oswin Appollis—found it difficult to impose themselves as they were consistently closed down and heavily challenged.

Despite limited opportunities, Appollis and Mofokeng nearly combined for a decisive moment when Mofokeng produced a brilliant pass to Appollis, who finished clinically—only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. It proved to be one of Pirates’ few clear openings in a tightly contested encounter.

The Buccaneers suffered an early setback before halftime when Moremi was injured following a heavy challenge and had to be substituted, with Patrick Maswanganyi coming on in his place.

Even under those difficult circumstances, Pirates showed resilience and composure, fighting back strongly to secure a 1–1 draw by the final whistle.

Reflecting on the nature of the match, Ouaddou expressed his frustration:

“I think if you want to give South African fans good football in the biggest derby in the world, we must protect the players who are willing to play,” he said.

“What I saw in this match—I don’t think I saw a football game, but karate. I don’t want to disrespect other sports, but this was not a football match.

“Everyone is willing to play good football, but players must be protected. Our three players—Mofokeng, Appollis, and Moremi—were targeted. They weren’t challenged to win the ball but to break their legs, and that is something we can’t accept in football.

“Our first half did not go as planned because we faced a team that didn’t come to play football but to destroy and injure players. That’s what we saw, and it is very sad for football and for such a fantastic derby, because people came to watch good football.”

Despite the heated nature of the contest, Pirates remain at the top of the standings with 59 points, holding onto first place after this result. Mamelodi Sundowns also dropped points following a draw against Richards Bay FC, ensuring the Buccaneers stayed in control of the title race.

Ouaddou also reflected on his team’s response and overall performance:

“I think if you look at most statistics in football, the team that scores first has a much higher chance of winning,” he added.

“Many times this season we have avoided conceding early, but we did against Siwelele, Richards Bay, and now Chiefs. However, my players showed great personality and character to come back. When you concede, you have to take risks, find spaces, and create chances—and that’s what we did.

“We must give credit to my players for their performance, especially for equalising. Maybe we could have scored more. I saw many Kaizer Chiefs players going down—I can’t say if they were tired or managing the game, but a draw was a good result for them.

“I think they should be disappointed, like us, because we lost two points. They should feel the same, but I saw they were happy with just one point.”

Pirates will now turn their attention to their next fixture against Stellenbosch FC on May 5 at Athlone Stadium, where they will look to return to winning ways.