Ouaddou Looking To Unbalance Stellenbosch

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has stated that he is not looking to make any tactical changes in his squad ahead of the MTN8 final against Stellenbosch FC, but will instead analyze his opponent’s weaknesses and capitalize on them.

Ouaddou will look to play his first final cup game, having coached Marumo Gallants last season, and not play in any final.

The Moroccan-born tactician was blessed with a limited number of signings to bolster the squad at the start of the 2025/26 season, with some of the players dominating the Bafana Bafana after receiving call-ups from Hugo Broos.

“I will not change anything, I will prepare the game with my players like we did since the beginning with a lot of professionalism,” said Ouaddou.

“Analyse the teams and try to find the weakness of that team, and to see how we can imbalance that team, and yes, of course, to improve some areas that maybe we couldn’t prove in the first game in the league. But what I can assure you is that it will not be easy.”

Ouaddou stated that despite MTN8 being one of their ambitions, it doesn’t make it more important than the other targets they have for this season.

“It’s one very important moment. Of course, in my starting coaching in Orlando Pirates, a lot of people are expecting that game, and the club has especially been winning that competition,” he said. 

“So it’s a target for the players, it’s the target for me, it’s the target for the club, but let me tell you that the club has many targets this season, and we cannot only focus on that moment.

“It’s one moment that is very important, but it’s a moment that is as important as the other ones in the league, in the other cups coming, the CAF Champions League as well. So we will definitely try to give our best to make our fans happy.”

The Soweto Giants will look to lift their fourth consecutive title when they play Stellenbosch at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday [18:00].