Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou insists it is premature to
evaluate his early reign at the club, even as he prepares for his second cup
final in just six months.
Addressing the media at Rand Stadium on Tuesday, the Moroccan mentor shifted
focus away from personal assessment ahead of Saturday’s Carling Knockout
final against Marumo Gallants at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
“To judge this work now, I think it’s too early,” Ouaddou stated, despite
having already guided Pirates to MTN 8 glory this season. He emphasized the
collective nature of the team’s achievements, expressing gratitude to
players, staff, and the club’s leadership.
“I would just like to thank my players, to thank my staff, first of all, to
thank the club, because it’s a collective work,” said the 47-year-old. “I
always say that we are getting results all together.”
Ouaddou revealed his primary focus has been synchronizing with the club’s
broader vision: “I just can tell you that we are aligned with the targets of
the club, and we are doing our job. We will continue to work hard in order
to reach targets for the club and for our fans as well.”
Saturday’s final presents an opportunity for Pirates to end a specific
drought—the Carling Knockout is the only domestic trophy they haven’t won
since its inception three seasons ago. Having already secured the MTN 8,
victory would give Ouaddou a second major trophy and edge the club closer to
a potential domestic cup double this campaign.
