“Not Robots”: Ouaddou Blasts Pirates’ Wastefulness As Petersen Masterclass Rescues Chiefs
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has praised Brandon Petersen for his exceptional performances this season, highlighting how the Kaizer Chiefs captain has consistently delivered match-saving displays and strong leadership between the posts.
Petersen once again underlined his importance with a standout performance, producing a series of crucial saves that kept Amakhosi firmly in the contest during their 1–1 Soweto Derby draw against Pirates at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
His efforts did not go unnoticed, as he was awarded the Man of the Match accolade following an outstanding display that secured a valuable point for his side.
The numbers further emphasise his impact. Pirates registered 12 shots, including eight on target, and created the majority of the chances in the match. However, they were only able to score once, largely due to Petersen’s brilliance in goal and his ability to make key interventions at crucial moments.
The former Bidvest Wits goalkeeper’s consistency throughout the season has been remarkable. In 19 league matches, Petersen has recorded 13 clean sheets, underlining his defensive reliability and importance to Chiefs.
Reflecting on Petersen’s display, Ouaddou acknowledged the goalkeeper’s influence while also pointing to his team’s inefficiency in front of goal.
“I think you have to give credit to the goalkeeper (Petersen). I think he really did a good job,” he said when asked by Sportswire.
“The most difficult thing in football is to create chances, and we have created a lot of chances this season.
“We created many chances against Chiefs, but we were not efficient in the final third.”
Despite the result, Pirates remain at the top of the league standings with 59 points. They will return to action on 5 May, when they face Stellenbosch at Athlone Stadium.
Looking ahead, the Moroccan mentor stressed the importance of rest for his players after a demanding period since the start of the campaign.
“I always say to my boys that they are doing a fantastic job. They started in July last year, and they have been performing well. I am very proud of them,” he added.
“We have nine to ten days, and the most important thing now is to give them some rest because they are not robots; they are human.
“I think their bodies also need to rest, especially when you see the effort they are putting in. There is pace and intensity in the football we are playing, and it is very demanding.
“So, we need to give them some rest, and then we will get back to business. We will analyse this game and see what went wrong so we can improve. I can guarantee that we will approach the remaining matches with high intensity, and we will fight until the end.”
