Ouaddou Defends Pirates’ Rocky Start
Orlando Pirates coach Abdelsam Ouaddou has reflected on the team’s opening two league defeats, saying they were part of the adaptation phase, and he is pleased that his players have now fully grasped his methods.
Concerns mounted when Pirates lost their first two league matches of the season against Sekhukhune United and Marumo Gallants, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the log.
It was far from a perfect start for Ouaddou, who had been appointed in the off-season to replace the much-loved Jose Riveiro.
Pirates fans are notoriously hard to please, and many questioned the appointment of Ouaddou, who had limited experience at PSL level after leaving Gallants at the end of last season.
But Pirates is a different beast altogether, and the pressure did not overwhelm him. Since those two defeats, Pirates have won nine of their 12 league matches, with their only draw coming against Mamelodi Sundowns.
They went top of the Betway Premiership standings this past weekend after brushing aside Durban City to move three points clear of Sundowns on 28 points from 12 matches.
The season may still be in its infancy, but it is already shaping up to be a tighter title race than in recent years, unlike previous campaigns in which Pirates finished runners-up three times to Sundowns.
“When you start a new project with a lot of new players, people have to adapt to your ideas and your game model,” said Ouaddou.
“Sometimes it takes time, but I’m happy that the guys now understand what I’m looking for. It’s good for us; it’s good for the players.
“It gives us trust, it gives us confidence for the rest of the season. But like I said, it’s not finished — we still have five months to go.
“So let’s stay focused and keep working hard in order to reach our target.”
On top of taking Pirates to the summit of the Betway Premiership, Ouaddou has also delivered the MTN8 title — the club’s fourth in a row.
They now have an opportunity to secure a second trophy this coming weekend as they face Gallants in the Carling Knockout final at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
A win there would certainly ensure those early-season defeats are quickly forgotten as the team heads into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations break.
