Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says he will not be diplomatic about his 2026/27 season intentions, asserting that, unlike other coaches who prefer not to take a stand, he will openly declare his intent to fight to defend the Betway Premiership title and win the CAF Champions League.
The former Morocco international guided the Buccaneers to their first league title in 14 years last season, making them the team to beat this season. It was a campaign in which they sealed a treble by also clinching the MTN8 and Carling Knockout.
In winning the league crown, the Soweto giants halted Mamelodi Sundowns‘ eight-year dominance in the Betway Premiership, making the feat more significant. However, they were found wanting in the Nedbank Cup and Champions League, where they failed to reach the group stage of the continental competition.
Now they are in a season where they are up against traditional foes Sundowns, who are keen to reclaim league honours and Kaizer Chiefs, who last won the PSL title in 2015. Other teams in the league could also wage a bitter struggle for the ultimate prize in South African club football.
On the continental front, Pirates are pushing to be crowned African champions for the first time since 1995. Also fuelling their desire in the Champions League is witnessing Sundowns bragging about being the reigning African kings after conquering the continent last term.
ABDESLAM OUADDOU MOTIVATED BY RIVALS BENT ON UPSETTING PIRATES
Ouaddou admits they are the team to beat this season in the PSL and takes it as motivation rather than pressure.
“I think it gives us motivation. It’s one of the intrinsic motivations when you know that you have been chased and people want to beat you. I think first of all it’s good for us for the motivation,” Ouaddou told the media at the MTN8 semi-finals press conference in Randburg on Thursday.
“But more than that, what brings interest in the league is not to know who is going to win the league at the beginning of the season. It’s what brings people to the stadium; it’s what gives people interest in watching the game on TV. But if you come already knowing who is the champion, it doesn’t make sense. That’s what I said to the guys last season. It’s not easy because people thought that I was arrogant.”
OUADDOU UNCOMPROMISING IN HIS TARGETS WITH ORLANDO PIRATES
While other coaches shy away from boldly declaring their intentions, the ex-Fulham centre-back says he will be firm and steely to make his ambitions known.
“In the first training session that I conducted in Spain [during pre-season], I told them [players] that this season we need to win the league. I know many coaches come here and they are cautious,” the ex-footballer who featured in four AFCON finals went on.
“They say, ‘Yeah, but I need players; no, I need time.’ But sometimes you need to, excuse me for using these words, but you need balls to say, ‘Yeah I’m coming here, and I want to win the league.’
“So, yeah, it creates interest, and this season again we want to win the league. It will not be easy. I’m not saying we are going to win, but we want to do everything to win, and we are doing everything to win the Champions League.
“So if you come here and you play small and you protect yourself, what are you going to protect yourself [with]? It means if you lose two or three games, you go out. Or four games, you are sacked. So be ambitious with your players and give them hope.”
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