Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has called for respect for his players ahead of Saturday’s CAF Champions League match against Lesotho champions Lioli FC.
The French Moroccan urged his troops to make a statement against Lioli FC amid claims that they are overrated.
The Buccaneers enter the tie buoyed by a 3-0 first-leg advantage in the Free State. Their goals came from a brace by Tshegofatso Mabasa and a strike by Oswin Appollis.
This convincing victory puts them one step closer to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League qualifiers, a competition they reached the semi-finals of last season.
But Ouaddou, who joined the Bucs at the start of the season, warned that there is no room for complacency, calling for a strong performance to please the home fans in their fortress Es’godini.
MY PLAYERS AREN’T OVERRATED – OUADDOU
The former Fulham FC defender, however, cautioned those calling his players “overrated”, insisting they “are good”.
“Tomorrow, I really want my players to show their superiority. [I want them] to show the level of Orlando Pirates because I cannot accept as a coach that we are insulting my players to say that we are overrated. My players are not overrated,” Ouaddou told journalists.
“We are Orlando Pirates; one of the best clubs in Africa, one of the best clubs on the continent and tomorrow I’m expecting a lot of motivation from my players just to show really the level of Orlando Pirates.
“It’s why I tell you it will not be an easy game for everybody. But I want a very, very important redemption and a very big motivation from my players because I don’t accept that my players are overrated. My players are good players,” he added.
The Soweto giants advanced to the Champions League semi-finals last season and are determined to go even further this time.
RELATED STORY: Ex-Pirates coach pens moving message after joining Davids at Raja