Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has taken a swing at his strikers, expressing frustration over their lack of potency just two games into the new 2026/27 season.
The Buccaneers opened their term with a 2-0 win over Milford FC in a Betway Premiership tie at Orlando Amstel Arena. They were back at their home ground on Saturday, where they needed extra time to edge stubborn and 10-man Durban City FC to advance to the MTN8 semi-finals.
Against Milford, wingers Oswin Appollis’ well-struck free-kick and Tshepang Moremi’s late goal handed them victory. On target against Durban City was Patrick Maswanganyi, who converted from the penalty spot before Gamphani Lungu grabbed the winner on a day he was playing as a right-back.
In both matches, Ouaddou started Yanela Mbuthuma spearheading the attack while Boitumelo Radiopane came on from the bench. Evidence Makgopa has not made the matchday squad on both occasions, together with Sifiso Luthuli. New signing Sebastian Pedersen only arrived in South Africa last week.
OUADDOU ADMITS ‘A LOT OF WORK’ IS NEEDED ON PIRATES STRIKERS
The French-Moroccan appeared to take a subtle dig at his strikers, questioning their quality and suggesting that, no matter how creative the team is, goals will not come without talented number nines.
“On one hand, I’m happy because we are creating chances. Last season we were the team in Africa creating the most chances,” Ouaddou told the media after the narrow win over Durban City on Saturday.
“But my frustration, of course, you can imagine that if we can convert 70 percent of these chances, it will just be fantastic. So, we are working on that. Don’t think that we are not doing anything about working on that. We have a lot of work with our players, especially offensive players. I’ve told you the reality: sometimes you can work, but you need talent.”
ABDESLAM OUADDOU ISSUES BLUNT MESSAGE TO PIRATES STRIKERS
The 47-year-old coach then went bold about the situation in his camp, saying his strikers need to “wake up quickly,” after saying that they lack the killer instinct.
“The way we are playing, we are not just throwing direct balls, we are trying to build from the back. So, when you reach there [in the final third], it means that you are successful in the build-up, in the progression,” added Ouaddou.
“When you get in the final third, and you create these kind of chances, I think it’s very good. Now, like I said, you can work many hours, but [you need] the killer instinct to feel the goals, to feel where the goal is going to land. You don’t buy these things in the supermarket. You have it, or you don’t have it. We are not giving up, we are going to keep working.
“I hope, to be honest, that our strikers will continue to work and believe and help us reach this target because we don’t have to forget that this season is very important for us.
“We must confirm what we did last season, but more than that, there is another competition [CAF Champions League] that we failed in last season. For me it’s really a big target, I need my strikers to wake up quickly and help the team.”
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