Pirates boss Ouaddou slams Durban City tactics after touchline brawl

Orlando Pirates’ derailed title charge erupted into chaotic scenes on Saturday afternoon as head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou clashed with opposition staff following a frustrating 0-0 draw against Durban City FC.

The stalemate at the Orlando Amstel Stadium was a catastrophic blow to the Buccaneers’ championship ambitions. A victory would have propelled them past Mamelodi Sundowns to the top of the Betway Premiership table on goal difference. Instead, the dropped points leave the Soweto giants trailing by two points, sending the title race into a final-day thriller against Orbit College on May 23.

As the final whistle blew, the immense pressure of the afternoon boiled over into a heated touchline altercation. Ouaddou, who spent the final minutes of the match visibly enraged, later revealed that a dangerous challenge on goalkeeper Sipho Chaine triggered his furious reaction.

Pirates coach Ouaddou vents fury over Chaine tackle

The former Moroccan international defender pulled no punches in his post-match press conference, accusing the visitors of crossing the line from aggressive football into malicious intent.

“There is a difference between playing strong with physicality on the ball and trying to break the players,” a scathing Ouaddou told reporters. “This is not the mentality and never will be mine—first as an educator, before being a coach.”

Ouaddou revealed his fuse was already short following the recent loss of Bafana Bafana winger Tshepang Moremi, who was sidelined for two matches after a bruising Soweto Derby. With his squad picks wearing thin at the worst possible time, the Sea Robbers’ boss stated he will not tolerate his players being targeted.

“We need to protect the players. If someone cannot protect them in the middle of the pitch, then I must protect them. We have to be an example; football has to be a bridge and a model for the next generation,” added the Pirates coaach.

Peace restored, but Dladla left clueless

While the confrontation threatened to overshadow the match, Pirates mentor Ouaddou confirmed that water had been put on the fire after a private conversation with Durban City head coach Pitso Dladla.

“We had a chat at the end, and everything is okay. He understands me, and he just apologised. I congratulated him for the good game they did,” the Pirates man conceded.

Interestingly, Dladla claimed to be the only man in the stadium who missed the fireworks, stating he was completely oblivious to the brawl developing right behind his back.

“To be honest, I was concentrating on giving instructions to one player, and when I turned, I just saw there was a commotion,” Dladla admitted. “Even now, I still need to ask what was really happening there.”