Pirates Ready To Make History With Fourth MTN8 Title In A Row

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is relishing the opportunity to lead the Buccaneers against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semifinal second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers are seeking to defend their title and make it four consecutive wins in the competition, a feat that would cement their dominance in this competition.

“It’s a fantastic moment for a coach when you play this kind of game in front of such fans, and with one of the biggest clubs in Africa,” Ouaddou said, highlighting the magnitude of the matchup between two of South Africa’s biggest clubs.

“Two biggest clubs facing each other, and what you can expect more from a coach is a big event for him. We will try to persevere in the best way to go through the final.”

With the first leg ending in a 1-1 draw at Orlando Stadium last week, the stakes are high for both teams as they battle for a spot in the final.

The Moroccan mentor acknowledged the challenging aggregate score, saying, “I think the aggregate score is tricky for both teams, and you have to be very smart and clever to approach the game, and it will be interesting how both teams will approach the game.”

The former Marumo Gallants coach added that he couldn’t reveal his plan just yet, but emphasized that it will be a very interesting game for both teams.

When asked about defending the title, Ouaddou was resolute in his team’s determination to win.

“When we get to the final, I think we’ll try to win the title. This is our title as the club won it last year, so we have to defend it,” said Ouaddou.

The Buccaneers have a rich history in the competition, having beaten Sundowns in the semifinal in 2022 and the final in 2023.

Last year, they didn’t face Sundowns in the competition, but this season’s semifinal matchup promises to be a thrilling encounter.

The Buccaneers won the MTN8 in the previous three seasons under the guidance of Spanish mentor Jose Riveiro, and now they are aiming to win it for the fourth time under Ouaddou’s leadership.