Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has made a bold claim about the Betway Premiership title after dropping points against Richards Bay FC on Friday night.
Pirates played to a thrilling 2-2 draw against Richards Bay in the league at uMhlathuze Sports Complex, missing an opportunity to overtake Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the log.
The Buccaneers came from behind twice in a match after Richards Bay played with the intent to walk away with all three points. Bay found the back of the net with goals from Thulani Gumede and Lindokuhle Zikhali, whereas Oswin Appollis and Lebone Seema scored for the visiting side.
After the draw against the Natal Rich Boys, Pirates remained in the second position on the league table with 55 points in 24 games. Meanwhile, defending champions Sundowns are at the summit of the league table with 56 points, and they have one game in hand. They will not be in action in the Premiership this weekend due to their CAF Champions League commitments.
WHAT OUADDOU SAID ABOUT THE TITLE RACE AFTER THE DRAW AGAINST RICHARDS BAY
While the disappointing results against Richards Bay gave Sundowns an advantage to open the gap and win the league for the ninth consecutive time, Ouaddou has insisted that the race for the league title is not over.
“We knew that it would be difficult here. Every time we come here or play Richards Bay, it’s always tight,” Ouaddou said on SuperSport TV. “We knew that it would be difficult, when you concede one goal, and you come back. It’s the first time that I think we concede a second goal like that, and after we come back.
“The guys did everything to win that game. I think there’s a little bit of disappointment. I think it’s two points lost in this race, but let’s work until the end.
“A lot of people can think that it’s over, but we don’t think like that; we have to play until the end. Our plan was not to concede and have a lot of clean sheets, but unfortunately today [Friday] that area was a little bit weak, and when you concede two goals here, it’s very difficult to score three.”
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