Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou deflected personal acclaim after
being named the Betway Premiership Coach of the Month, choosing instead to
credit his players, staff, and even his latest opponent, Golden Arrows’
Manqoba Mngqithi.
Following his team’s 3-1 victory over Arrows on Wednesday, Ouaddou was quick
to shift the spotlight, describing Mngqithi as “one of the best African
coaches that we have in the continent.”
“I was following him for a long time. I like the way he is working, the way
he is thinking football,” Ouaddou said, acknowledging the tough challenge
Arrows posed. “We knew that it would be very difficult. The guys have
respected the plan, exactly what we have planned since the beginning.”
Despite the accolade marking Pirates’ strong start to the season, Ouaddou
dismissed the idea of individual awards in a team sport.
“I don’t like individual awards. For me, if I was the coach of the month, it
is thanks to the players,” he insisted. He extended his gratitude to what he
called a “very competent South African staff” and the club’s management.
Summarizing his team-first philosophy, the coach concluded, “Instead of
saying Ouaddou is the coach of the month, I prefer to say Orlando Pirates is
the club of the month.”
