Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has set the record straight on the absence of striker Tshegofatso Mabasa from the matchday squad at the Soweto giants.
The highly-rated attacker has struggled to break into Ouaddou’s starting line-up since the beginning of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. Mabasa has featured in nine matches across all competitions and scored four goals, which includes a strike in the MTN8 final against Stellenbosch FC that marked the first trophy for the Moroccan coach at Pirates.
Ouaddou, who took over the coaching job in the off-season from Marumo Gallants, has preferred Yanela Mbuthuma and Evidence Makgopa in the striking department.
The decision has raised numerous questions among supporters, especially given that Mabasa has been a consistent goal scorer for the club over the past few seasons. For instance, the former Bloemfontein Celtic star netted 15 goals in 48 matches across all competitions under then-head coach Jose Riveiro last campaign.
With Mabasa missing in action, media reports revealed that the talented forward could be facing an uncertain future at the club. However, Ouaddou says that he doesn’t have a problem with ‘Sniper,’ but he prefers a different profile of strikers.
‘I DON’T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH MABASA’: OUADDOU
“To be honest, many people are asking me that question [about Mabasa’s absence], first of all, I don’t have any issue with Mabasa,” Ouaddou said on MSW on 947.
“He’s a player that I love, he’s a good guy, he’s a good striker, and now I have a lot of strikers. Sometimes, tactically, the profile of the defence we are going to play influences the choice of striker.
“Sometimes we are playing high, sometimes we’re playing mid block. My game model is very demanding. There are a lot of runs, pressing, and a lot of demand in terms of fitness. With my staff, we are choosing players regarding the opponents we are going to play.
“If the opponents are building from the back, we need someone to chase. He had the opportunity to play maybe not enough, but I have Makgopa, Mbuthuma, Mabasa, [Boitumelo] Radiopane, and [Sfiso] Luthuli, five players in one position.
“And sometimes fans can feel that there is an injustice, but it’s just rules, and I can only play 11 players on the pitch. As a coach and educator, I have to improve players.
“Mabasa knows that he’s one of the best players who is capable of finishing in the box. Now we’re pressing very high and chasing, I cannot afford to leave the opponents with the ball for than five seconds, it’s too much.
“It’s an area that he knows he needs to do more. When you have players who are able to do that, we make the choice to select those kinds of players. We expect a bit more from him in terms of pressing.”
RELATED STORY: Pirates coach Ouaddou sheds light on Mabasa’s omission