Why managing Pirates makes Ouaddou the ‘happiest’ man in football

Immense pressure is usually the defining characteristic of the Orlando Pirates’ hot seat, but for Abdeslam Ouaddou, it’s the source of ultimate professional fulfilment.

As he prepares the Buccaneers for Saturday’s Carling Knockout final against Marumo Gallants, the Moroccan mentor described himself simply as the “happiest coach.”

The final is set to take place at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.  Following their earlier success in the MTN8, victory would secure a coveted domestic cup double for Ouaddou in his debut season.

The Pirates Coach Embracing the Spectacle

The magnitude of the fixture is already evident, with the PSL confirming last week that the match at the 46,000-seater venue is sold out. While the Moroccan tactician acknowledges the weight of expectation that comes with leading an institution like Pirates, he insists he is thriving under the spotlight.

“I am enjoying the moment in Orlando,” Ouaddou told the media. “I am enjoying coaching such good players. Every morning when I wake up and come to work, I’m the happiest coach.”

He was candid about the demands of the job: “It’s not an easy position when you come to coach such a big club; you have a lot of expectations. But to be honest, I’m very happy.”

A Philosophy of Trust and Collaboration

While early results have been promising, Ouaddou cautioned against premature evaluations of his overall impact. “To judge the work… It’s too early. We are just aligned with the club’s target,” he noted, preferring to wait until the end of the campaign for a full review.

A cornerstone of Ouaddou’s approach has been his reliance on the existing technical infrastructure at Pirates, a stark contrast to managers who insist on bringing in entirely new backroom staff.

“I came alone here,” Ouaddou explained. “I trust 100% in the people’s competencies. I’m someone who is using the staff’s competencies, most of them South African and Tunisian. All these people are helping me to reach the targets.”

Adding a layer of narrative to Saturday’s final is the fact that Marumo Gallants is Ouaddou’s former club. However, his focus remains strictly on delivering performance and silverware for the travelling Buccaneers faithful.

“For now, there are only games to play, only games to win,” Ouaddou insisted. “Every game we play, we play with the same character, the same pleasure, the same commitment to deliver performance for our club and for our fans.”