Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou did not mince his words following a tempestuous 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs in a heated Soweto Derby tie at FNB Stadium on Sunday, launching a scathing critique of his rivals’ physical approach.
While the Soweto Derby is globally renowned for its passion and flair, Ouaddou suggested that the latest edition veered into a territory that “crossed the red line” of professional football.
Despite the stalemate, the Buccaneers remain at the summit of the Betway Premiership standings, aided by Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalless draw against Richards Bay FC on the same day. However, the post-match discourse was dominated not by the log standings, but by Ouaddou’s explosive allegations regarding the safety of his players.
Pule Mmodi broke the deadlock to give Amakhosi the lead, but Kamogelo Sebelebele hit back with a crucial equaliser to ensure the spoils were shared.
Reflecting on the match, the Pirates mentor admitted he anticipated a physical contest the moment he saw the Amakhosi starting line-up. He conceded that his side struggled to match the intensity in the middle of the park, losing key duels that disrupted their usual fluid transition.
“About the game, I think we had the game that we expected,” Ouaddou told the media. “When I saw the line-up, I knew directly that we would be faced with a lot of duels and tough football in the middle. I think in terms of duels, we lost that battle of fighting, and there are games like that, unfortunately.”
However, his assessment quickly turned from tactical analysis to a stern condemnation of what he perceived as a deliberate attempt to injure his creative talents.
FOOTBALL OR KARATE? OUADDOU LASHES OUT AT CHIEFS’ PHYSICALITY
Ouaddou questioned the integrity of the contest, suggesting that the spectacle—one of the biggest games in world football—was sacrificed at the altar of excessive physicality. He went as far as comparing the match to a different sporting code entirely.
“I think sometimes it was even a limit of the red line you couldn’t cross,” he lamented. “If we want to give nice football to the fans—and I think South African fans deserve it when I see the quality of the organisation—we must protect the players who are willing to play football. What I have seen today, I don’t know if I can call it a football game or karate. I have to respect other sporting codes, but it was not a football game.”
The most serious of Ouaddou’s allegations involved the treatment of his attacking trio: Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, and Tshepang Moremi. The Pirates coach believes these players were singled out for punishment that went far beyond tactical fouls.
‘THEY CAME TO BREAK LEGS’: OUADDOU’S SHOCKING TARGETING CLAIMS
“Not everyone was willing to play nice football, and players need to be protected,” Ouaddou continued. “Our three players—Mofokeng, Appollis, and Moremi—were targeted. Not to take the ball within the rules, but to break the legs of the players. This is something I cannot accept in football.”
His frustration stems from the belief that such a “destroy and disrupt” game plan robs the fans of the technical brilliance usually associated with the Soweto Derby. “A team came not to play football but to destroy and to break the legs of the players. This is what we saw, and it is very bad for football.”
The draw keeps Pirates at the summit after 26 games, but failing to secure maximum points could prove costly. With second-placed Sundowns now just a single point behind and holding a crucial game in hand, every dropped point feels like a significant blow to the Buccaneers’ title aspirations.
For Chiefs, the stalemate was enough to maintain third place, keeping them firmly on track to secure qualification for next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
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