“Orlando Pirates caught everybody unaware with Ouaddou’s appointment” – Moeneeb Josephs
- Adamu Muftawu
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Orlando Pirates legend Moeneeb Josephs has admitted that the club caught its fans unaware with the appointment of coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
The Moroccan joined Pirates as a replacement for Spanish trainer Jose Riveiro, who left to join Egypt powerhouse Al Ahly.
Several reports in South Africa pegged former Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad head coach Rulani Mokwena and Pitso Mosimane for the job but the Buccaneers overlooked the big names to appoint the ex-Atlas Lions defender.
The appointment left Moeneeb Josephs, who spent five seasons with Pirates, completely shocked.
“It’s a complete surprise but that’s about Orlando Pirates, they always get us with the surprises,” Josephs told Soccerbeat.
“The track record of signing of players for Orlando Pirates has always been sketchy for me but since the signing of Jose [Riveiro] I felt like listen, some homework went into whatever coach they want to bring.
“But they completely caught us unaware with this one. This one came from absolutely nowhere. Nobody was ever thinking of coach Abdeslam [Ouaddou] being our coach. I don’t know anything about him, I knew him at Marumo Gallants [and] he got a result against us.
"I have to be optimistic, I only have to be optimistic,” Josephs added.
Pirates finished in second last season with 61 points, twelve points behind winners Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season.
Their position earned them a spot in the 2025/26 CAF Champions League for a second consecutive season and coach Ouaddou will look to make a mark next season.
