Pirates Eye Carling Cup Glory Despite Bafana Blow
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has acknowledged that the Carling Cup match is crucial, stressing that his side must win despite being without nine players who are currently in the Bafana Bafana squad preparing for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Buccaneers will face the Carling All Stars at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, with the Carling Cup trophy at stake.
Ouaddou’s men will be looking to make history by becoming the first Carling Knockout champions to win the Carling Cup, after Stellenbosch and Magesi failed in the previous two seasons.
Pirates beat Marumo Gallants in the final of the Carling Knockout to be crowned champions of the competition for the first time since it was sponsored by Carling Black
Label, and their last win was in 2011, when it was still known as the Telkom Knockout, last Saturday.
Despite being without key players Sipho Chaine, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Thelente Mbatha, Sipho Mbule, Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, and Evidence Makgopa, who are currently with the national team, Ouaddou is confident that his side has prepared well for the challenge.
“It’s a very important game for us, every game that we’re playing we play them with a spirit of winning,” he said.
“We have prepared very well in the camp since the beginning of the week and analysed the opponent.
“We analysed the philosophy of the coach (Manqoba Mngqithi), the way he’s playing, and of course, we try to imagine with the players he has on how he can approach the match.
“We know it’s a very important game for us, every game that we’re playing, we play them with a spirit of winning,” he said.
The Moroccan mentor also highlighted that this game is an opportunity for the fringe players to prove themselves, as the regular players are not available.
“All the players you will see are the impact players,” he added.
“This means we don’t have any substitutions, we cannot talk about that because I have a group of players that can challenge for any games that we’re playing.
“There’s a trophy at the end of the game, so we will see a competitive match on Saturday.”
He added: “The second half of the season will be challenging as we’re on top of the log. So, I’m waiting for each player to challenge, and it’s time for everyone in this game to raise their hands and see that they’re ready.”
This will be the last game for the Buccaneers before they close for the AFCON and Christmas break until later in January 2026.
A victory for the Buccaneers in this game will see them have one of the best first-half seasons, having already won the double – the MTN8 in September, and they’re also leading the log in the Betway Premiership.
