Ouaddou: We Have A Chance To Win Four Trophies
Orlando Pirates coach Abdelsam Ouaddou has challenged the current group of players to make history by winning four trophies this season.
Ouaddou said he has emphasised to his squad that a football career is short, and while they are in a strong position to achieve something special, they have a chance to make a name for themselves and be remembered as club legends for years to come.
The former Moroccan international used his own experience as an example, recalling his time with the Atlas Lions at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite being favourites, Morocco lost the final to host nation Tunisia, a reminder, he said, that history only remembers the winners, not the runners-up.
Pirates have already claimed two trophies this season – the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout – in Ouaddou’s first campaign with the club.
They also moved to the top of the Betway Premiership standings on Tuesday after beating AmaZulu, opening a three-point lead over Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Buccaneers will begin their Nedbank Cup campaign in the round of 32 against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, where they are expected to progress.
“I think it is not only for me, because I’m not playing alone,” said Ouaddou.
“But for all of us, it is a huge challenge. You just said nobody has done it before. That is a kind of motivation to give everything and write the names of the players into the history of the club.
“To win all four, you have to be motivated and brave enough to challenge these things, because football moves very quickly.
“You sometimes feel you have 10 years to play, but those 10 years go by very fast. In 2004, I was in the AFCON final, and we had the strongest team in Africa.
“We played fantastic football in Tunisia, and everyone saw us as the favourites, but in the end we didn’t win the trophy.
“You don’t have your name on the cup. Tunisia won that AFCON. I always tell my players to use the time they have to be ambitious and leave their names as legends of the club.
“It is definitely a big challenge for us this season.”
Pirates head into the clash with TTM in outstanding form. They are unbeaten in 12 matches across all competitions, with 10 wins and two draws, and have kept clean sheets in their last seven games.
It presents a daunting task for TTM, who currently compete in the ABC Motsepe League, not only to score against Pirates, but to overcome them.
