Ouaddou’s emotional plea after guiding Pirates past Sundowns to MTN8 final

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou became visibly emotional after guiding his team to the MTN8 final, a win he hopes will silence his critics after a difficult start to the new season.

The Buccaneers defeated arch-rivals Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 on penalties in the semi-final second leg on Saturday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. The two-legged affair ended 2-2 on aggregate after another 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Iqraam Rayners opened the scoring for Sundowns, but a goal from Kamogelo Sebelebele, who was also named Man of the Match, levelled the score for Pirates. The penalty shootout saw goalkeeper Sipho Chaine emerge as the hero, making two crucial saves to secure the win.

The victory provided a much-needed reprieve for Ouaddou, who had faced criticism after losing his first two league matches. After the final whistle, the Moroccan coach was seen embracing and kissing his technical team in a moment of pure relief.

Ouaddou used the emotional win as a platform to ask for patience from the fans and management. He believes that with time, he can turn the club’s fortunes around.

“I just ask, ‘give me time’,” Ouaddou said. “I know my competencies. I am African and proud. I love my brothers, and that’s why I kiss them. They did a good job. If I have time, maybe I will help the club. But if I don’t, I will be sacked and move on. It’s football. But I love my job!”

The coach also spoke passionately about his belief in African and black coaches, explaining why he chose to work with the staff he inherited at the club.

“I am doing the job with passion,” he stated. “I came here alone, but I could have brought six people because I have a team in Europe. But like I said, I believe in African competencies. The grass is not always greener on the other side. In South Africa, there is talent, and that’s why I kiss them. This victory is not only mine or the players’, but also for the staff, management, and everyone.”

Ouaddou acknowledged that as a public figure, he expects criticism from fans, especially when the team is not winning. “When you get criticism, it’s because you are doing a public job,” he said, drawing a parallel to a cinema audience with a ticket. “When the fans of a big club are not happy because we are not winning, we have to understand them.”

Despite the tactical adjustments that led to the win, Ouaddou remains humble. “Some people think I am a genius because of a few changes, but I don’t see it that way,” he said. “Today [Saturday], the changes worked. Sometimes they won’t. People will say, ‘hey, he’s a bad coach.’ So today, I don’t think I am better than before.”