Ouaddou credits Orlando Pirates for withstanding ‘strong’ Las Palmas

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has reacted to his team’s barren draw with Las Palmas on Thursday. 

The Moroccan credited his wards for showing strong team spirit to withstand pressure from ‘tough opposition.’ Pirates have camped in Spain where they are playing training matches to afford their new coach a chance to get to know players and implement his tactics.

Ouaddou joined Pirates recently after parting ways with Marumo Gallants FC where he spent a short but impactful tenure. Now, a move to the Johannesburg-based side followed as he filled the void created by Jose Riveiro’s departure. The Spaniard landed a new job at Al Ahly in Egypt.

Now, three games into his infant tenure at Pirates, Ouaddo remains winless during the pre-season. The last match was the one that ended without a winner on Thursday. Reacting to the result at Marbella Football Centre, the Moroccan described Palmas as a tough opposition:

“Today’s game was not easy,” Ouaddou told Pirates’ media. “We can say we ran behind the ball, we played against the most pressing team.

“So, it is a positive point even if we didn’t have the ball. We can say that I found a very big team spirit, very strong and during the season we will need this team spirit, especially when we are going to play away in the Champions League. So we have to take some positive points.”

The Buccaneers remain winless in the pre-season after having started with a 2-0 loss to Bolton Wanderers. They will now focus on the next warm up match against Segunda Division side Granada on Saturday night.