Ouaddou Issues Fierce Warning To Pirates Attackers
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has challenged his attackers to become more clinical after they struggled to convert several chances in their MTN8 quarter-final clash against Durban City on Saturday.
The Buccaneers eventually secured their place in the semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 victory, scoring the winning goal in the 120th minute through newly signed attacker Gamphani Lungu.
Pirates created several opportunities throughout the encounter but struggled to find the net despite playing against 10-man Durban City, with strikers Yanela Mbuthuma and Boitumelo Radiopane unable to make the most of their chances.
The difficulty in converting opportunities frustrated Ouaddou, although the Moroccan mentor was pleased with his side’s ability to consistently create chances and provide the attacking football he believes supporters want to see.
“I’m very happy that we are creating chances because when you coach anywhere in the world and you have such a packed stadium, either in Johannesburg or in other cities across the country, people come to enjoy a game,” he said.
“So, as a coach, you have to implement a game plan. It is not always easy because you have an opponent in front of you, but as a coach, you also have to think about the people who come to support you.
“They want to see goals, they want to see entertainment, they need to see the tempo, and they are not here to come and be sleeping at halftime, you know? So, on the one hand, I’m happy because we are creating a lot of chances.
“Last season, we were the team in Africa — not only in Africa, we were the team — that created the most chances. But my frustration, of course, is that if we can convert 70% of these chances, you can imagine, it will be just fantastic.
“So, we are working on that. Don’t think that we are not doing something to work on that. We have a lot of work with our players, especially the offensive players. IDPs are part of the prioritisation, and, after all, football also needs talent.”
While Ouaddou wants his attackers to improve their efficiency in front of goal, he also made it clear that no player can consider their place in the starting XI guaranteed.
The Moroccan coach stressed that competition for places is essential if Pirates are to meet the expectations surrounding the club, particularly as they continue their pursuit of another MTN8 title.
“No, no, we are not here to give flowers to people, you know,” he added.
“We are not in the, I don’t know, in the circus. We have a professional ecosystem.
“There are a lot of expectations. If you want me to remind you of my first two games last season, do you think that I was happy to have eight bodyguards around me? So, I want to win. I want to win games.
“Of course, I want to put the strongest team. I want to put the strongest team because there are a lot of expectations. The fans want to win that competition. The club wants to win it. It’s not easy.
“I want to win it as well. So, we need to put out a strong team and the guys who deserve to play, the players who deserve to play, because they show it in training and they show it in the preparation.
“There is nothing guaranteed, and it’s how we push the players to have competition. But I’m not here to give flowers, you know, because when you lose two or three games, who is in the headlines?”
Following their victory over Durban City, Pirates will now turn their attention to the Betway Premiership when they travel to Durban on Wednesday to face AmaZulu.
