Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has explained how defender Lebone Seema has become a key player for the Buccaneers.
Addressing journalists at the post-match conference after the MTN8 final between Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, Ouaddou dived into what he thinks makes Seema a vastly improved defender.
The 23-year-old centre-back joined the Soweto giants from TS Galaxy FC in July 2025 and was one of Ouaddou’s first signings when the Moroccan arrived at Pirates. A regular since arriving at the Buccaneers, Seema’s rise has also seen him finally breaking into the Bafana Bafana fold.
He was recently part of Pitso Mosimane’s group for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as well as the international friendly match against Egypt. After a 16-minute debut against Eritrea, Seema went on to play the whole game against the Pharaohs.
He is bidding to establish himself in the national side where competition at the heart of defence is stiff. His best chance at maintaining a spot in the Bafansa setup is dependent on continuing with solid performances at Pirates.
ABDESLAM OUADDOU HIGHLIGHTS LEBONE SEEMA’S KEY GROWTH AREAS
The Buccaneers coach has explained his defender’s qualities and made a bold prediction.
“Seema did a lot of work with seriousness and professionalism because if you want to get to a high level. First of all, you need to work, to listen, to be coachable,” Ouaddou told the media.
“He is a fantastic boy. He accepts being criticised, and he listens. I remember last season against Golden Arrows, I tried to bring some efficiency in him because I always tell him that, of course, there is the beautiful game in him, and it’s always important to keep his quality and find players between the lines to play short, to play long, to play beautiful.
“But a high level sometimes asks you to be rough, to be efficient. Sometimes it’s not a shame if you have to put the ball in the stands because you want to keep a clean sheet.
“It’s part of your job. I call it the emergency situation. You cannot always play clean as a defender. He has a lot of improvements.
“He is now somebody who is able to play clean football and sometimes be rough, hard on the ball, not on the ankle of an opponent. I don’t teach this to my players [to injure opponents].
“You can see that step by step he became a high-level defender, and I am sure there is room to be even better. I predict a great future for him if he continues to work and listen in his career.”
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