Ouaddou reveals philosophy behind Pirates’ winning substitutions

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is celebrating more than just three points following the 3-1 Betway Premiership victory over Golden Arrows.

The Moroccan tactician is touting his use of the bench—which saw substitutes directly engineer the two winning goals—as proof of the powerful “impact player” mentality he is instilling at the club.

The crucial away win at King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday allowed the Soweto giants to leapfrog Kaizer Chiefs into second place on the PSL table. With two games in hand and just three points separating them from leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, the Buccaneers now possess a genuine shot at the summit.

Pirates Substitutes Turn the Tide

Pirates faced a real challenge after Arrows managed to equalise through Thokozani Khumalo, nullifying an earlier advantage gifted by an Ayanda Jiyane own goal. It was the changes made by Ouaddou that decisively swung the contest back in Pirates’ favour.

The tactical masterstroke saw Patrick Maswanganyi introduced for Sipho Mbule. Just nine minutes later, Maswanganyi provided the assist for fellow substitute Yanela Mbuthuma to reclaim the lead. The victory was then sealed when another incoming player, Relebohile Mofokeng, set up Mbuthuma to complete his brace late in the second half.

The “Good Ambition” Dynamic

When asked about the influence of his substitutes, Ouaddou dismissed the traditional term, explaining his philosophy that emphasizes collective responsibility and depth.

“It’s the team spirit we want at Orlando Pirates. Everybody is important. I always say there’s no substitute, there are only players and impact players and we continue like that,” Ouaddou stated on SuperSport TV.

This performance echoed a similar scenario just eight days prior, where another bench player, Evidence Makgopa, scored the winner against Magesi FC to send the Buccaneers into the Carling Knockout semi-finals.

Ouaddou believes this current “dynamic and team spirit” is the key ingredient for long-term success. “We hope to keep this dynamic and team spirit until the end of the season,” he said. “I can tell you that if we keep this team spirit, if we keep this end to go forward to score goals and to be strong to keep the self-development, I think we can have some good ambitions.”

The performance against Arrows demonstrates that every player, whether starting or on the bench, is expected to be a game-changer under Ouaddou, signaling a significant shift in the squad’s competitive culture.