Ouaddou Backs Luthuli To Lead Pirates In Second Half

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes striker Sifiso Luthuli is the kind of forward the club can rely on heavily in the second half of the season as they chase their first league title since 2012.

Luthuli joined the Buccaneers at a young age, joining the academy of the club at just 17 years old.

The 24-year-old scored many goals in the DStv Diski Challenge team of the Buccaneers – with Pirates also loaning him to Pretoria Callies in the Motsepe

Foundation Championship and Pirates’ ABC Motsepe League team, where he scored several goals and gained experience.

Following his stint at DDC, Motsepe Foundation Championship, and ABC Motsepe League, the Buccaneers decided to register Luthuli with the first team this season under the guidance of Ouaddou.

Luthuli made his debut in Pirates’ 2-0 victory against Carling All Stars in the Carling Cup, where the Pirates’ academy graduate contributed to both goals as he scored and assisted, and Ouaddou was pleased with that performance.

“About Luthuli, sometimes you don’t need two weeks or one month to see a good player,” Ouaddou said.

“I think Luthuli was a good player for a long time, but definitely, he is a player who can surprise many people in the second half of the season.

“I was on the show of Robert Marawa and asked about my wishes for the second half of the season; I said maybe we’ll need a striker, but we have it now in Luthuli.

“With Luthuli, I think he is a player that will give us everything we need going forward.”

Luthuli faces competition from four other strikers at Pirates — Tshegofatso Mabasa, Yanela Mbuthuma, Evidence Makgopa and Boitumelo Radiopane.

Pirates ended the year top of the Betway Premiership standings with 28 points from 12 matches, sitting two points clear of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in second place. They will return to league action after the Africa Cup of Nations with an away fixture against Sekhukhune United on 24 January 2026.