Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has shared his thoughts on the heated Betway Premiership title race, pointing out the downside of having one team dominate the league championship.
The Soweto giants brought another twist to the league chase after claiming a 2-0 victory over AmaZulu FC at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday night.
Pirates secured crucial three points thanks to a strike from Relebohile Mofokeng and an own goal from AmaZulu goalkeeper Darren Johnson in the dying minutes of the match.
After collecting maximum points against Usuthu, Pirates moved to the summit of the league table with 35 points in 15 matches played. They opened a three-point gap on defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who are on 32 points with the same number of matches.
The Buccaneers are challenging Sundowns for the league as they look to end their Premiership drought that dates back to 2012. Meanwhile, Masandawana have been a dominant force in the PSL after winning the Betway Premiership for eight successive seasons.
WHAT OUADDOU SAID ABOUT FIGHTING FOR THE LEAGUE TITLE
Speaking after the impressive win against the KZN-based outfit, Pirates coach, Ouaddou, stressed the importance of having big teams competing for the league title to keep South African football interesting.
“You know if you want to be part of this race that I call a marathon, it’s fine, we won, but the way is still too long. We have to be humble, work, and be professional because we have strong teams in the PSL,” Ouaddou said.
“There are a lot of teams that are competing in the PSL. We see games every weekend, and the way that teams are playing. I think that’s good for South African football to have maybe three or four teams in the race for the title.
“It brings value to the South African football, you can’t have a team [Sundowns] dominating for decades with 20 points [gap], I think you lose interest in the football. So I think it’s a good year now that we have maybe three or four teams that are fighting for the title.”
RELATED STORY: Kamohelo Mokotjo’s expectations from PSL after a decade abroad