Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou embraces pressure as Orlando Pirates aim for trophies

Orlando Pirates' new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is relishing the pressure that comes with the expectations of challenging for all the trophies up for grabs this season.

Ouaddou ushered in a new era at Pirates on Saturday afternoon, following the departure of his predecessor Jose Rivero. And that got off to a flying start as his side beat Polokwane City 2-0 in the MTN8 quarter-final and reached a fourth successive semi-final in the competition. 

It was a crucial win that saw them take a step closer to winning a record-extending fourth Wafa Wafa crown, following three successive triumphs under Riveiro.

Winning cup competitions is expected to be a standard for Ouaddou, after Riveiro’s strides, which is why bagging the league is the ultimate target for the Moroccan.

The last time Pirates were crowned the kings of local football was during the 2011/12 season under Augusto Palacios, who was serving on an interim basis.

Ouaddou is not fazed by the expectations that come with knocking Mamelodi Sundowns, who’ve won the league for the last eight seasons, off their perch, though.

“It’s a positive pressure, I must say,” Ouaddou said. “When you put your feet in such a big club on the continent, the board doesn’t bring you here just to chill.

“I know the expectations of the fans, and board. I’ll do my best to reach the target. The players know they’ve done a good job from three years ago, and we need to keep going.”

The club has also ensured that Ouaddou has enough tools at his disposal to build on the foundation that has been laid by Riveiro, bolstering the squad in the last few weeks.

Since the opening of the winter transfer window, Pirates have signed at least 11 players, including talisman Sipho Mbule and Oswin Appollis. Mbule and Appollis started when they beat Polokwane at Orlando, and the latter scored the opening goal and eventually walked away with the Player of the Match award.

The arrival of the new players boosts Ouaddou’s title aspirations as he believes that they’ll fit into his philosophy.

“We have the tools - I think the club gave me the possibilities of getting success,” Ouaddou explained.

“I am very happy, and proud of the quality of players that I have. Of course, every weekend, I have to find the lineup. But it’s a good problem for me, I am a happy coach.

“I don’t want to go deep into my philosophy because if I have to explain it to you, I think we’ll sit for an hour to two, going through it. I like a positional and direct game, and I want my team to be able to play a positional game, but to be direct and strong defensively. I want them to have all the qualities.

“I need some time to explain it (my philosophy) to you, to be honest. My playbook and game model is 90 slides.”

Ouaddou has been pleased with how hard the players have been working to ensure that they impress him, which is why he’s selecting his matchday squad based on merit.

“We have to give a chance to people that deserve it. I don’t want to give chances because I want to please people,” Ouaddou explained.

“When I give you a chance, it’s because you’ve shown me in training (that you deserve it). So, I have seen that you can bring something into the team.

“All the guys that you’ve seen (today), it’s because they showed me something during the pre-season.”

Ouaddou will not push the players who don’t make the match-day squad aside as he believes they are still part of the team's bigger scheme of things.

“I want to say, to win a game you need 11 players, but to win titles and trophies, you need a group. So that’s the philosophy that we want to implement this season,” Ouaddou said.

“We’ve seen during the pre-season camp that we changed players a lot. So, it’s very important to get everyone involved at the club.”