Former Orlando Pirates winger Steve Lekoelea believes newly appointed coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has what it takes to succeed at the club, but says there is only one problem he needs to solve.
Ouaddou was appointed as the new coach last month, taking over the Pirates’ hot seat from Jose Riveiro, who has joined Al Ahly.
The new coach’s arrival at the Buccaneers sparked mixed reactions among fans and club legends. This is largely due to the remarkable success of his predecessor, Riveiro, who secured five trophies and three consecutive second-place Betway Premiership finishes in just three years. Ouaddou’s lack of prior trophy wins is also a key point of concern.
Lekoelea says the only challenge the 46-year-old Moroccan could face at Pirates would be matching the standards set by Riveiro.
WHAT IS THE ONE PROBLEM ABDESLAM OUADDOU NEEDS TO SOLVE?
“The previous coach set high standards. So, the current coach is expected to match those standards,” Lekoelea told FARPost.
“That is the only problem he is going to face at Pirates. The supporters are not patient. They need wins and trophies.
“They also need to win the league. But if he can perform and win the first two or three games, then he will ease the pressure,” added Lekoelea.
EX-ORLANDO PIRATES STAR STEVE LEKOELEA FEELS JOSE RIVEIRO HAS SET HIGH STANDARDS AT THE CLUB
“Riveiro was a good coach, and he left Pirates at the highest level in terms of performance. The new coach must match that, and if he doesn’t perform, it’s going to be a problem.”
Ouaddou and his Pirates side are currently in Spain for the pre-season tour in Marbella, which will run until 20 July.
The club will play friendly matches against European opponents, including Bolton Wanderers [England], Pafos FC [Cyprus], Las Palmas [Spain], and Granada [Spain].
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