Ouaddou Explains Goal-Sharing System And Mbuthuma Form
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has offered detailed insight into his team’s tactical approach, explaining why goals are shared across the squad rather than relying solely on strikers.
Pirates returned to the top of the Betway Premiership with 58 points following a convincing 3–0 victory over AmaZulu on Saturday, moving two points ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns, who still have two games in hand.
The Buccaneers have recently drawn attention for their spread of goals, with players such as Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, and Tshepang Moremi scoring more frequently than the team’s strikers.
This trend has placed Yanela Mbuthuma under scrutiny, particularly after he failed to score in high-scoring wins against TS Galaxy and Golden Arrows. However, Mbuthuma responded by finding the net against Usuthu, easing some of the pressure while reinforcing the collective attacking philosophy Ouaddou has instilled.
“For the goals not always coming from strikers, you have to train your team every day. We don’t have just one philosophy—we teach the players everything throughout the week,” said Ouaddou.
“In our game model, you need to understand the principles during build-up play. The principles are not the same in the progression phase or in the final third, but you must have attacking patterns. After that, the players need to understand how to prevent the opponent from building up.
“Once we master that, we must be able to form a strong midfield block to stop the opponent’s progression. We also need to understand that defending a low block is different from preventing build-up.
“These are principles we have been working on since the beginning of the season during camp. We emphasise them through videos, meetings, exercises, and matches. Of course, the players also need the fitness to execute them.
“I’m not surprised that the danger can come from anywhere. At the same time, I’m fortunate to have quick players, because you cannot teach these principles if the players don’t understand football. It requires intelligence—you must think about the game. I’m happy to have clever players.”
The former Marumo Gallants coach also addressed the absence of Evidence Makgopa, with Boitumelo Radiopane named on the bench and later replacing Mbuthuma in the second half.
“I think it was a technical decision. He has been working hard for a long time to return,” he added.
“Before the AFCON break, we played against All Stars. He had a good game and scored. He has been giving his best in training, so we felt it was the right moment to give him a chance.
“We manage the squad carefully, and our strikers need to remain competitive. Evidence still needs more time, possibly a full 90 minutes to regain match fitness. We brought Radiopane in to build his confidence and help him reintegrate after a long absence. It means a lot for him to see that the technical staff believes in him.”
Pirates will now turn their attention to the highly anticipated Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs next Sunday, with Mbuthuma aiming to build on his goal and Makgopa pushing for a return to the squad.
