Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has revealed what he told Mpho Padime just before his Buccaneers debut, while also exonerating the 19-year-old for playing to the gallery against Sekhukhune United at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.
The Soweto giants advanced into the MTN8 final following a 3-0 victory over Babina Noko in a second-leg tie, to seal a 4-0 aggregate win after taking a 1-0 lead in Polokwane last weekend. By reaching the MTN8 final, Pirates are in line to be crowned champions of this competition for a record-extending fifth successive season.
They now await the winner between Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows FC in the other semi-final clash on Sunday.
Padime finally made his Pirates first-team debut on Saturday, coming on for Gamphani Lungu with seven minutes to go, with the scoreline at 2-0. The teenage midfielder made his presence felt in stoppage time with a secondary assist for Kamogelo Sebelebele to score the Buccaneers’ third goal.
“I will be honest with you, I am somebody who wants efficiency. I want goals, clean sheets. But at the same time, as I said to the boy when he was just coming in there, I said, ‘My boy, it’s 2-0, enjoy your football. I don’t have anything to say. Just enjoy your football,’” said Ouaddou on SuperSport TV.
ABDESLAM OUADDOU BENDS THE RULES FOR MPHO PADIME?
However, Padime’s secondary assist came with some flair after he stylishly controlled the ball before a forward pass to Sebelebele, who then played Tshepang Moremi, before the ball was returned to the right-back to kill off the match as a contest.
Padime’s flowery trapping of the ball drew wild cheers from delirious Pirates fans who approved the move. Ouaddou is a critic of such showing off, but he explains why he has no issues with his teenager’s move.
“Sometimes you need to give freedom to these boys. I’ll be honest with you, climbing on the ball, stuff like that when it’s 0-0, I don’t like that,” Ouaddou went on.
“But when we are three or four goals up, I have to integrate myself in the culture of the country and sometimes to give them freedom.”
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