Ouaddou Highlights Key Area Hindering Pirates’ League Title Ambitions
Recently appointed Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has pinpointed a major area of concern that halts the Buccaneers from clinching their first league title, with their last triumph dating back to the 2011/12 campaign.
The Moroccan mentor was installed as the new leader in the Bucs dugout, succeeding Spanish coach Jose Riveiro, who won five domestic cup titles during his tenure and managed three consecutive runners-up finishes behind rampant Mamelodi Sundowns in the league.
While he impressed in his brief stint at Marumo Gallants, saving the team from relegation, Ouaddou, who won five games, drew four, and lost three at the helm of the Bloemfontein-based outfit, has bigger shoes to fill at Pirates.
Despite immense pressure, the former Morocco international is pleased with the foundation his predecessor left when he departed for Al Ahly, noting the team’s free-scoring nature as a major boost ahead of his first season in charge.
“I like the philosophy of positional game, the wish to go score quickly, I like it. You can see that Pirates scored a lot of goals last season, and every year we can see that Pirates is edging closer and closer to the leader,” Ouaddou said on Pirates TV.
Though elated with the squad at his disposal, Ouaddou believes the Soweto giants have to improve on dealing with counterattacks, a key area he’s adamant can take Pirates to the next level and potentially topple Sundowns if addressed.
“But at the same time, I think we need to improve some areas, where if we manage to improve, then I think we can go further, and maybe win the league. And when I speak about these areas, it’s defensive transitions,” the 44-year-old tactician added.
“We should try to work on that, to try to work together as a unit. But I think it’s a good team and I like it, we have to keep the legacy going, to keep the work that has been done well and in a proper way.”
Usually, when a coach comes into a club, he wants to destroy everything.
“We just have to be clever and analyze what was good and maybe bring something to build on this foundation that has been well done by the previous coach and the previous coaches as well. I think it’s very important to build on that.”
Ouaddou will lead the Sea Robbers’ pre-season camp in Spain at Marbella football center, where they are set to face Bolton Wanderers of England on 11 July, before tackling Greek outfit Pafos FC two days later and concluding with Spanish sides Las Palmas and Granada on 17 and 19 July respectively.
