How mental workshops fuelled Pirates’ Soweto Derby masterclass

Orlando Pirates didn’t just win the 184th Soweto Derby on Saturday night; they dominated it with a psychological edge that head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou credits to a week of intense mental conditioning and “positive storytelling.”

The Buccaneers’ 3-0 demolition of arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs at a packed FNB Stadium sent them back to the summit of the Betway Premiership with 41 points. It was a historic night for the Sea Robbers, marking their heaviest victory over Amakhosi in a quarter-century and their fifth league derby win in a row.

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Managing the Pirates Debutants in the Soweto Derby

With five derby debutants in the starting XI—including goal-scorers Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis—Ouaddou knew that tactical drills alone wouldn’t be enough to secure the points.

“We held many meetings throughout the week to manage their emotions,” Ouaddou revealed. “For most of them, this was their first taste of the derby. It was vital to work with them mentally so they didn’t ‘play’ the game in their heads before kickoff. We wanted them calm enough to let their natural qualities shine under the lights.”

The path to this clinical performance was paved with highlights. Coming off the back of a league loss to Mamelodi Sundowns and a shock Nedbank Cup exit to Casric Stars, the technical team felt the squad needed a confidence boost.

Ouaddou disclosed that his staff used “video workshops” to remind the players of their own greatness.

“We used WhatsApp and workshops to show them positive videos of the great goals they’ve scored and the successful games they’ve played—both under the previous technical team and current structures,” the coach explained. “We created a narrative to make the event feel mentally easier. You could see the result on the bench; we were calm, and that energy transferred to the pitch.”

The goals from Moremi, Appollis, and a late Evidence Makgopa header provided what Ouaddou calls a “reference performance.”

As the Buccaneers head into the final 12 games of the season, the coach believes this victory has set the standard for their title charge. “I am incredibly proud of them. We have to build on this kind of performance for the rest of the season,” he concluded.

With the “Ghost” now three points clear at the top, the mental blueprint used this week may well be the key to bringing the league trophy back to Orlando.