Ouaddou reveals touching message to Mbuthuma after penalty miss

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou revealed a touching post-match act of leadership, prioritising the immediate emotional well-being of striker Yanela Mbuthuma following the club’s cruel penalty shootout exit from the CAF Champions League.

Despite staging a magnificent 3-0 comeback at a packed Orlando Stadium against DR Congo side FC Saint Eloi Lupopo on Saturday, the Buccaneers ultimately bowed out after Mbuthuma missed the decisive penalty. This dramatic defeat ends the Soweto giants’ continental run early, preventing last season’s semi-finalists from advancing.

Pirates Coach Rushes to Console Young Striker Mbuthuma

Ouaddou wasted no time addressing the mental toll the miss would take on the former Richards Bay striker, who is in his debut season with Pirates.

“The first player that I have seen just after the game is him. I went quickly on the pitch to tell him to chin up and be proud of what he did,” Ouaddou stated in his post-match press conference.

The coach was quick to remind everyone of Mbuthuma’s critical contribution during the match itself, noting that the forward scored a vital goal to fuel the comeback. “When he came on… he scored a goal, without him, we could have lost the game before,” he stressed.

Ouaddou’s message to the young player was one of perspective and future importance: “He’s still young. Still many competitions this season. And they will be very important for us.”

Team Solidarity and Tactical Regret

The Pirates coach praised the team’s swift response, noting the players and staff immediately rallying around the distraught Mbuthuma.

“It is in that moment that we need colleagues and teammates. It’s not when everything is going well that we recognise a strong team, but also a solidarity when things are going wrong,” Ouaddou explained.

Despite the heroics of overturning the three-goal first-leg deficit, the early elimination is a significant setback, particularly against an opponent yet to start its domestic league. Ouaddou revealed that, faced with the huge deficit, the team’s tactical plan was initially a “false nine system,” designed to disrupt Lupopo’s deep-sitting defence and create openings.

“I’m very upset for them [players] and the organisation. The top team was eliminated from the Champions League, but that is the reality of the sport,” he concluded. “We must praise the opponent for their efficiency.”