Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has given his honest take on the struggles facing new signing Andre de Jong at the Soweto giants.
De Jong was in the starting line-up as Pirates were eliminated from the Nedbank Cup Last 16 by Motsepe Foundation Championship side Casric Stars. The Sea Robbers crashed out of the last domestic cup of the current season after suffering a disappointing 5-4 defeat on penalties against Casric at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.
Pirates failed to assert themselves against the second-division outfit after Casric Stars held them to a goalless draw in 120 minutes, sending the match to a penalty shootout.
In a match against Casric, De Jong, who joined Pirates from Stellenbosch FC in January 2026, was in the starting line-up, leading the attack as a false nine. Ouaddou started the 30-year-old ahead of Yanela Mbuthuma, while Evidence Makgopa and Boitumelo Radiopane missed out of the match due to injuries.
De Jong has seemingly struggled to hit the ground running at Pirates. Despite being a new arrival, a section of the club’s supporters has already begun to question his ability to deliver on the big stage.
The attacker arrived at Pirates as a high-profile signing following his impressive run of form in the colours of Stellies. The talented attacker made 114 appearances for the Winelands-based side, scoring 19 goals and chipping in with 11 assists.
De Jong also played for AmaZulu FC and Royal Am in the PSL before joining Pirates, one of the iconic clubs on the African continent.
WHAT OUADDOU SAID ABOUT DE JONG’S ADAPTATION AT PIRATES
Ouaddou admitted that the primary challenge for De Jong is his mid-season arrival, which has left little room to adapt to the team’s tactical setup. The New Zealander has registered one goal for Pirates—converted from the penalty spot—in four appearances across all competitions to date.
“You know about Andre. When you come in the middle of the season, for any player, it’s not easy, but I think he’s doing his best to adapt to the team,” Ouaddou said.
“We decided to give him game-time [against Casric Stars], and to be honest, I think that he did well in what we asked from him. Of course, we needed the goal, but the goal doesn’t come from him; the goal can come from all the front line. His integration is coming step by step. You can tell me that we don’t have such time in a club like Orlando Pirates, but we don’t have a choice; we just have to back him, and not only him, all the new players.
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