Ouaddou makes bold statement on Orlando Pirates’ trophy intent

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has delivered a powerful statement of intent, asserting that the club should not shy away from their objective of sweeping all remaining trophies this season, having already secured three pieces of silverware.

The French-Moroccan tactician made the bold declaration shortly after guiding the Sea Robbers to victory over the Carling All-Stars in the Carling Black Label Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. This victory adds a third trophy to Pirates’ cabinet, which already houses the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout Cup.

No Need to Hide Ambitions, Says Orlando Pirates Coach

Ouaddou stressed that while completing a clean sweep—which includes the highly coveted Premier Soccer League (PSL) title and the Nedbank Cup—will be challenging, the focus must remain on performing at their peak.

“All that is going to be on the table – the league, Nedbank Cup, we will play to win them,” Ouaddou confirmed.

The coach believes that honesty about their goals is crucial for maintaining momentum.

“We don’t have to hide, why hide? We need to show and to be able to challenge these competitions. That will not be easy, but we have to be humble to work.”

The Price of Success

Ouaddou warned his Orlando Pirates squad that success hinges on continuous effort and discipline, reminding them that complacency will be costly in the competitive PSL environment.

“It’s what I always say to my players, if you stop working, become lazy and not respect your body, and if you don’t respect football, it won’t respect you,” he emphasised.

Following the cup final, the coach granted the players a rest but expects them to return with renewed focus on the big prizes.

“We will go and have a nice rest because they have worked very well. I’m very proud of what they did and to come back with a lot of ambitions. If we start to sleep, there are fantastic teams in the PSL that can pass in front of you.”