With Orlando Pirates having confirmed Abdeslam Ouaddou as the successor to Jose Riveiro, the contract details for the French-Moroccan coach have now emerged.
The Buccaneers surprised many with the appointment of the former Marumo Gallants coach, especially since speculation had strongly linked Rulani Mokwena with a return to the club.
It’s understood that stumbling blocks emerged in Mokwena’s potential switch to the Buccaneers, resulting in the club’s decision to go with Ouaddou.
The 46-year-old coach, Ouaddou, has now taken charge of Ezimnyama Ngenkani, ushering in a new chapter for the club. His arrival follows the prosperous three-year spell the club enjoyed under the tutelage of Riveiro.
During his successful tenure, Riveiro’s leadership saw Pirates secure an impressive five trophies, including three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cups.
ABDESLAM OUADDOU’S CONTRACT DETAILS AT PIRATES
With Ouaddou coming in, he penned a two-year deal which is expected to conclude in June 2027, according to what FARPost has gathered.
The former AS Vita coach will be looking to carry forward the winning momentum established by Riveiro. Starting with the pre-season camp in Spain, which is just around the corner, Ouaddou will be preparing the Soweto giants for what is promising to be a challenging season.
Ouaddou introduced himself to South African football with an impressive brief stint with Marumo Gallants. He had joined Bahlabane Ba Ntwa at the beginning of March, with the mandate to keep the club in the Betway Premiership.
He oversaw 12 matches across all competitions at Gallants, winning five, drawing four and losing three. He guided them to a 10th-place finish with 32 points after 28 league matches.
Following his abrupt departure from Gallants, the coach immediately garnered significant interest from both local and international clubs.
While Chippa United were keen on his services, they ultimately appointed Sinethemba Badela, as Ouaddou was still resolving issues with his former club, Gallants.
He was a target of an unnamed club in the Belgian Challenger Pro League. Newly promoted Durban City FC also tabled him an offer, but he opted for Pirates move.
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