Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has spoken out on managing the big squad at his disposal, assembled by the Soweto giants.
In the current transfer window, Pirates made several major signings, beefing up their depth for the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.
The Buccaneers recruited big-name players such as Sipho Mbule, Sihle Nduli, Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, Yanela Mbuthuma, Tshepho Mashiloane, Sinoxolo Kwayiba, Abdoulaye Mariko, and Nkosikhona Ndaba.
The latest additions have added to the existing quality, leaving Pirates with a bloated squad in every position. Pirates currently have one of the biggest squads in the league, with 38 players listed on their official website.
The Sea Robbers showcased their depth this past weekend after leaving out a handful of key players from last season in their 2-0 victory over Polokwane City FC in the MTN8 quarter-final.
Pirates coach, Ouaddou, left out Tshegofatso Mabasa, Thalente Mbatha, and Evidence Makgopa, proving the quality he has at his disposal. The Moroccan mentor says he is used to having fewer than 30 players in his previous clubs.
WHAT ABDESLAM OUADDOU SAID ABOUT MANAGING A BIG SQUAD
“The number of players we have, it’s a challenge all the time, in my previous clubs, where I was a coach, I usually had between 25 to 28 players,” Ouaddou said.
“In terms of the management of the squad, it’s very important to keep everyone involved for the targets of the club. The challenge is when you have maybe 40 players, it’s not the case here, but in some previous club where I worked with 40 players, it became difficult.
“You can not be efficient in your work, you can’t get straight to the point, and you need to make a lot of rotations at training.
“So it’s a challenge, but at the moment, I am an educator before I’m a professional coach. As long as I have 35 players, I cannot leave out 10 players on the side [at training]. In terms of sport values and as a human being, I have to include them.
“I have to think a little more about my sessions on how I can include all the players. So it’s not up to me [to have a big squad]. As long as we have many players, I have to train them; it’s my job, and I’m paid for that.”
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