Ouaddou Praises Pirates’ Impressive Performance – Sportswire
Orlando Pirates’ head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed his excitement following the team’s triumph over Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Sunday.
The Buccaneers’ victory lifted them to fifth place in the Betway Premiership standings, accumulating nine points from five matches.
Key goals from Patrick Maswanganyi, Deon Hotto, and Tshepang Moremi ensured the win for Pirates, who sought to capitalize on their rivals’ performances.
“This match felt like it was worth six points rather than just three, especially since our competitors secured wins yesterday (Saturday). Our aim is to maintain close proximity and climb the standings,” Ouaddou noted, alluding to the achievements of Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Sekhukhune United, each remaining unbeaten this season.
He commended his team’s diligent preparation and analysis of Chippa United, despite the latter’s recent coaching changes.
“We thoroughly analyzed Chippa’s strategies, even amidst their recent coaching churn,” he explained.
“Moreover, I have a solid understanding of coach (Luc Eymael) from past encounters in another country. I am familiar with his tactics, and with the assistance of our analysis team, we identified their weaknesses.”
The Moroccan coach conveyed his happiness with the team’s display, particularly their capacity to secure three goals early while keeping a clean sheet.
“The players performed admirably, taking advantage of Chippa’s frailties and scoring three goals early on [Sunday].”
“Netting multiple goals, especially in away matches, is beneficial for both the players and the team as a whole.
“Additionally, maintaining a clean sheet is crucial, and I’m delighted with this, as we have struggled defensively. It’s a major achievement for the team to preserve a clean slate, and I take pride in them.”
After the FIFA international break, Pirates will shift their focus to the MTN8 Cup final against Stellenbosch on September 13 at Mbombela Stadium.
