Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has added further fuel to the post-Soweto Derby fire, questioning Kaizer Chiefs’ “big team” status after witnessing their rivals’ celebrations following the 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
While the stalemate allowed the Buccaneers to maintain their lead at the summit of the Betway Premiership, the post-match discourse has been dominated by Ouaddou’s and Khalil Ben Youssef‘s blunt assessment of the proceedings.
After previously labelling Amakhosi’s physical approach as “karate,” the Moroccan tactician turned his attention to the psychological state of the Naturena-based side, insinuating that their reaction to a single point was telling of a shift in ambition.
Speaking to the media in a press conference, Ouaddou did not hide his surprise at seeing the Glamour Boys celebrate a result that saw them remain in third place on the log standings, 12 points behind leaders Pirates.
Pirates were forced to dig deep and come from behind to salvage the 1-all draw, as Kamogelo Sebelebele’s equaliser cancelled out Pule Mmodi’s opening strike for Chiefs.
Ouaddou suggested that while a draw appeared to be a “fantastic” outcome for Amakhosi, his players showed resilience in fighting back. He emphasised the tactical difficulty of the task, noting that in high-stakes encounters, the team that draws first blood typically secures the victory.
OUADDOU MOCKS CHIEFS FOR ‘FANTASTIC’ DRAW
“If you look at world football, the team that scores first has a significantly higher chance of winning,” Ouaddou said. “In several games this season—against Siwelele FC, Richards Bay FC, and today [Sunday] versus Chiefs—we conceded early.
“My boys gave their all in terms of character and personality to mount a comeback. Once you concede, you are forced to take risks to create chances; that is exactly what we did, and the players deserve immense credit for finding the equaliser.”
Ouaddou’s swipe comes amidst his broader frustration with the nature of the contest. The Pirates mentor remains adamant that Chiefs’ “destroy and disrupt” game plan was designed solely to stifle his side’s rhythm rather than to pursue a victory.
However, Ouaddou believes that once parity was restored, the opposition seemed content to retreat and protect the point.
“If the game had gone on a little longer, perhaps we could have found a winner. I saw many Chiefs players going down—I cannot say if they were genuinely tired or simply killing time—because it seemed a draw was a fantastic result for them. For such a big club, I think they should be as disappointed as we are. I have the feeling that we lost two points, and Chiefs should feel the same, but it was clear they were very happy with just one.”
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