Ouaddou Aims To Lead Pirates To Glory In Carling Knockout
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is determined to lead his team to victory in the Carling Knockout final against his former club Marumo Gallants at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
This will be the second time Ouaddou’s Pirates have reached the final this season, having already won the MTN8 earlier this season when they beat Stellenbosch in September.
The Buccaneers have been on a roll, beating Siwelele, Magesi, and Richards Bay to reach the final of this competition. Gallants, on the other hand, eliminated Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch, and Golden Arrows to reach the final.
Last season, Pirates were eliminated in the round of 16 by Magesi, who went on to win the competition. The 1995 African champions last won this tournament in 2011 as the Telkom Knockout, beating Bidvest Wits 3-1, but since then, they’ve been struggling to win it.
However, Ouaddou believes that his side can win the title, but it’s not going to be an easy task.
“I think this is a competition like all competitions that you have to win, and it’s on our targets,” Ouaddou said.
“Of course, what gives the originality of this competition is that the winner can play against a team that has been selected by the fans.
“But for us, it’s a competition that we have to put all the effort into to win, and we know that it will not be easy because I know our opponent very well, especially the team spirit I have built there.
“So, we have to be prepared for that and bring everything to win this competition for the club.”
The Buccaneers have been in good form this season as they are also the log leaders in the Betway Premiership. Despite their current top spot in the Betway Premiership and reaching two finals, Ouaddou remains cautious.
“I just like to thank my players, staff, and the club because it’s a collective work – and I always say we’re getting the results together,” he added.
“But I can’t judge this work for now because I think it’s too early. But I can tell you that we are in line with the targets of our club, and we’re just doing our job.
“I think we’ll continue working hard to reach our targets for the club and for the fans as well.”
