Abdeslam Ouaddou takes blame for Mofokeng’s quiet night

Abdeslam Ouaddou, the head coach of Orlando Pirates has shouldered the responsibility for Relebohile Mofokeng’s uncharacteristic struggle during Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns.

The 21-year-old sensation arrived at FNB Stadium as the league’s most talked-about talent, riding a wave of three consecutive Man of the Match performances. However, as the Buccaneers’ Betway Premiership title aspirations took a hit against the defending champions, Mofokeng failed to find the clinical edge that has defined his recent resurgence.

A Tactical Gamble Gone Wrong By Ouaddou

Since taking the helm, Ouaddou has been credited with unlocking Mofokeng by moving him from the touchline into a central “Number 10” role. Yet, in a bid to outmanoeuvre Sundowns, the coach admitted that he over-engineered the youngster’s positioning.

“He is a clever player who can cover multiple positions, but today we moved him around too much,” Ouaddou confessed. “While I gave him and Oswin Appollis the freedom to swap sides to surprise the opponent, shifting him between the ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ roles too often disrupted his rhythm.”

The Piratex coach highlighted the technical difference between the two roles, noting that while the wing limits a player to a 180-degree field of vision, the centre offers a full 360-degree range of passing and movement—a space where Mofokeng usually thrives.

Despite the tactical hiccup, Ouaddou remains focused on Mofokeng’s long-term trajectory. To bridge the gap between “local star” and “elite playmaker,” the technical team is implementing a high-pressure training regimen.

Pirates’ Development Plan for Mofokeng:

Decision Speed: Simulating high-intensity scenarios where the player has minimal time to react.

Positional Stability: Ensuring more consistency in his starting role to allow for better game flow.

Utilising Physicality: Leveraging his low centre of gravity to navigate tight spaces under constant defensive pressure.

𝗣𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is refusing to let one result dampen the spirits of his camp!

Following the 2-1 loss to Sundowns, Ouaddou reminded his players of the… pic.twitter.com/WQQY0zOR4u

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) February 19, 2026

While the defeat to the Brazilians is a setback, the Pirates’ locker room remains defiant. Ouaddou was quick to remind his squad of the “incredible progress” made since the season’s inception.

“We cannot let one result dampen our spirits,” the coach insisted, pointing to the overall growth of the team despite the midweek disappointment. The Buccaneers remain firmly in the hunt, provided they can re-centre their brightest young star.