‘No time for jokers’: Ouaddou blasts Pirates stars ahead of Sundowns showdown

Orlando Pirates may be sitting six points clear at the summit of the Betway Premiership, but head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has sent a clear message to his squad: the “circus” is over.

Despite a seemingly dominant 3-0 victory over Marumo Gallants at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, the Moroccan tactician was in no mood for celebration. Instead, he used the post-match platform to deliver a blistering ultimatum to his players, labelling their wastefulness in front of goal a “sickness” that has no place in a title-chasing side.

‘The Only Positive is the Three Points’: Says Pirates Coach

While fans left the stadium buoyed by the three-goal cushion that widened the gap between the Buccaneers and Mamelodi Sundowns, Ouaddou’s assessment was icy.

“About the game, I can say the only positive point today is the three points, that’s it,” a grim-faced Ouaddou remarked.

Pirates squandered a litany of clear-cut chances that could have easily doubled the scoreline. For a coach obsessed with elite efficiency, the flair and “showboating” often associated with the Soweto giants appeared to be a source of fury rather than pride.

“If we want to be more ambitious, we must convert our chances. Let’s be serious in the final third. It is becoming a sickness,” he warned.

WATCH: The Ultimatum: Compete or Step Aside

With a massive top-of-the-table “Mammoth Wednesday” clash against Masandawana looming at FNB Stadium, Ouaddou made it clear that he will not tolerate complacency. He challenged any player not ready for the mental rigors of a title race to make themselves known now.

“We are not here to play circus. We are here to compete,” the coach declared. “There is a lot of expectation from the club and from the fans—this is a huge club in Africa. I am very ambitious, and I will not hide it: we want to win the title.”

In his most pointed comment of the night, he invited those with a casual attitude to exit the dressing room.

“If some people don’t want to win the title, they must put their hands up and say it, because I don’t want to lose time with people who want to joke on the pitch. I am not here for that.”

The Buccaneers head into the midweek showdown with a six-point cushion, but the psychological stakes have been raised significantly by their own manager. Ouaddou’s “law of the land” suggests that reputations will count for little when he picks his XI to face the Brazilians.

For Pirates, the mission is simple: prove they are killers in the final third, or face the wrath of a coach who refuses to “lose time” on anything less than perfection.