Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has laid down the law at the Soweto giants, issuing a scathing warning to his players despite their 3-0 demolition of Marumo Gallants in the Betway Premiership on Saturday afternoon.
The victory at the Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto saw the Buccaneers pull six points clear of Mamelodi Sundowns at the summit of the log standings after 16 games. However, the scoreline did little to mask the coach’s frustration with his side’s wastefulness and perceived lack of “seriousness” in the final third.
Ouaddou, known for his high standards and blunt delivery, offered a cold assessment of a game many would consider a comfortable day at the office.
“About the game, I can say the only positive point today is the three points, that’s it,” a grim-faced Ouaddou remarked. Pirates were guilty of squandering a series of golden opportunities, failing to convert clear-cut chances that would have made the 3-0 scoreline even more emphatic.
THE ONLY POSITIVE IS THE THREE POINTS’: OUADDOU FUMES AT PIRATES’ LACK OF KILLERS
The Moroccan tactician’s main gripe remains the team’s efficiency in front of goal—a recurring theme he describes as a “sickness” that could derail their title ambitions.
Ouaddou made it clear that entertainment should never come at the expense of clinical execution. With the club chasing its first league title in over a decade, the coach is demanding an elite mentality.
“If Marumo had scored earlier, the game could have been different. However, when you are playing for such a big club with high ambitions, it is crucial that we finish in the final third. I have been saying this, but it’s becoming a sickness. If we want to be more ambitious, we must convert our chances and let’s be serious in the final third.”
A CHALLENGE TO THE ORLANDO PIRATES SQUAD
In a move that will likely shake up the dressing room, Ouaddou challenged any player not fully committed to the cause to step aside, especially with a massive top-of-the-table clash against Sundowns looming on Wednesday at FNB Stadium.
“We are not here to play circus. We are here to compete. There is a lot of expectation from the club and from the fans—this is a huge club in Africa. Everybody is ambitious here. I am very ambitious, and I will not hide it: we want to win the title,” he declared.
“We will not hide it. If some people don’t want to win the title, they must put their hands up and say it, because I don’t want to lose time with people who want to joke on the pitch. I am not here for that. If some people don’t want to win the title, I think they just have to put their hands up and say it, because I don’t want to lose time with people who want to joke on the pitch. I’m not here for that.”
The Buccaneers now head into the Mammoth Wednesday showdown against the Brazilians with a six-point cushion, but with a head coach who refuses to let complacency settle in.
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