Pirates hit the summit but Ouaddou warns: No time to relax

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says reaching the top of the Betway Premiership table is only the beginning of a far tougher phase ahead for his revived Buccaneers.

Ouaddou, whose tenure began with two league defeats in August, has overseen a remarkable turnaround that has carried Pirates to the summit for the first time this season.  Their ascent is built on a 10-match unbeaten run and a growing confidence within a squad that has steadily absorbed his methods and expectations.

“I think any coach that’s in charge of such a big club, if they come to this kind of club, it’s their target and so it was a target of mine,” he said. “It’s our target as a team, it’s collective work because I’m not working alone and I can say now that it’s a good thing that we’re at the halfway point and we’re in that position.”

But Ouaddou was quick to stress that touching the top is the easier part — staying there is where the real work lives.

“The most difficult is going to be staying in that position and to do that we have to stay humble and keep working because there are a lot of good teams in this league and the level is very high,” he said. 

“If we think we can relax or we have won the title, it’s going to be very difficult because we’re playing in one of the best leagues in Africa.”

The early turbulence of his first weeks in charge — especially the defeat to Marumo Gallants — now feels distant. Since then, Pirates have dropped points only once, against Mamelodi Sundowns, a sequence that has given their campaign renewed purpose and stability.

“When you start a new project with a lot of new players, people have to adapt to your game model and ideas. Sometimes it takes time and I’m happy that the guys understand what I’m looking for,” Ouaddou added. “It’s good for us but as I said, it’s not finished, we haven’t reached our target as yet.”

Beyond the league, Pirates now shift their attention to chasing more silverware. The club is preparing for next Saturday’s Carling Knockout Cup Final, where Ouaddou believes the team’s growing maturity and belief will be tested again on a big stage. 

Having already defended the MTN8 this season, Pirates will look to add the Carling Knockout for the first time into their cabinet as they head there as huge favourites. With momentum, structure and confidence aligning at the right time, the Buccaneers enter the final with both expectation and opportunity.

For Ouaddou, topping the log is a milestone worth acknowledging — but it is also a reminder that the journey to sustaining excellence has only just begun.