Other Big Teams Out, Says Ouaddou After Pirates Exit In Nedbank
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou admitted it had been a tough week for his side following their Nedbank Cup elimination, stressing the need to rebuild confidence after consecutive defeats in different competitions.
The Buccaneers were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup in the Round of 16 by Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit Casric Stars at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday after failing to convert their chances in both regulation time and extra time.
The match was ultimately decided on penalties, where Nkosinathi Sibisi, Mpho Chabatsane and Nkosikhona Ndaba all missed from the spot to send the visitors through.
The defeat came just days after Pirates had suffered a league loss to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership at FNB Stadium, compounding what Ouaddou described as their most difficult period of the campaign.
“When you are playing for a title and of course we lost in the previous game (against Sundowns), now it is very important mentally to wash the brain, give confidence, and trust to the players,” Ouaddou said.
“I think this is what we did after Sundowns, and now following this loss we will do the same. I will tell them that we still have 13 final games coming and nothing is lost.
“We now need to find some resources, and it is really important. This is a tough week after losing two games and I think it is the first time this is happening to us.
“So, we have to find resources like we did at the beginning of the season when we bounced back and won 11 games in a row, and that is what we need to do now.”
The Moroccan mentor also pointed out that Pirates were not the only giants to fall in this season’s competition, with Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns also eliminated.
Chiefs were knocked out in the Round of 32 by Stellenbosch in Cape Town, while Sundowns suffered a shock exit against TS Galaxy in the round of 16 on Saturday.
“I don’t know if I have to take the games that we lost as reference, I think it will be difficult,” Ouaddou added.
“I think we need to find other tools to bounce back, because it is very important to bring back the confidence to the players to continue performing. The 13 games left are very interesting and important to play.
“But, yeah, the nature of the Nedbank Cup is that even if you’re playing against a team from a lower division it can challenge you if we don’t put ourselves at the level of motivation that we need.
“I think we saw that with other big teams as well – they’re out. So it is the nature of this tournament, but we have to bounce back.”
The Buccaneers’ immediate task will be a highly anticipated Soweto Derby against Chiefs on 28 February at FNB Stadium, a fixture that now carries even greater significance as they look to respond to their recent setbacks and reignite their momentum.
