Orlando Pirates coach Ouaddou blasts Kaizer Chiefs “karate-style” in Soweto derby

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has slammed Orlando Pirates ‘karate style’ display in the highly competitive clash.

The highly anticipated Soweto derby ended in a fiercely contested battle, but much of the post-match discussion centred on the physical nature of the game, which Ouaddou felt crossed the line of fair play.

The Pirates boss singled out aspects of Chiefs’ approach, claiming his players were repeatedly targeted throughout the 90 minutes, with little protection from match officials.

One player in particular, Siphesihle Ndlovu, came under scrutiny for his aggressive duels, especially in his repeated physical battles with Pirates youngster Relebohile Mofokeng. According to Ouaddou, the midfielder consistently used forceful challenges and shoulder-to-shoulder contact that disrupted Pirates’ rhythm.

Despite the intensity of the contest, referee Abongile Tom did not produce a single yellow or red card during the match, a decision that further added to the Pirates coach’s frustration.

“About the game, I think we had the game that we expected,” Ouaddou said after the match. “When I saw the line-up, I knew directly that we would be faced with a lot of duels and tough football in the middle.”

The coach admitted his side struggled to cope with the physical battle, which he believes ultimately shaped the outcome of the match.

“I think in terms of duels, we lost that battle of fighting. There are games like that, unfortunately,” he added.

However, Ouaddou’s strongest criticism was reserved for what he described as excessive aggression that went beyond acceptable footballing standards.

“Sometimes it was even a limit of the red line you couldn’t cross,” he said. “If we want to give nice football to the fans, and I think South African fans deserve it, we must protect players who want to play football.”

The Pirates coach did not hide his disappointment with what he saw on the pitch, questioning the overall nature of the contest.

“What I have seen today, I don’t know if I can call it a football game or karate,” he said. “I have to respect other sporting codes, but it was not a football game.”

Ouaddou also claimed that several of his key attacking players were specifically targeted, making it difficult for Pirates to impose their usual style.

“Our three players—Mofokeng, Appollis, and Moremi—were targeted,” he said. “Not to take the ball within the rules, but to break the legs of the players. This is something I cannot accept in football.”

He concluded by insisting that such an approach damages the image of the league and undermines the entertainment value of the derby.

“A team came not to play football but to destroy and break legs,” Ouaddou stated. “This is what we saw, and it is very bad for football.”