Ouaddou says Orlando Pirates signed Sebastian Pedersen to fix finishing problem

Abdeslam Ouaddou says Orlando Pirates turned to Norwegian striker Sebastian Pedersen to address what he views as the club’s most pressing weakness – converting chances into goals.

The 27-year-old arrived in South Africa in a surprise move from Norwegian second-tier side Sogndal IL and is regarded internally as one of the headline recruits ahead of the new Betway Premiership season.

Pedersen joins the Buccaneers with a strong scoring record from his time in Norway. Across spells with Sogndal and Moss FK over the past four-and-a-half seasons, he scored 51 goals and provided eight assists in 117 appearances. He had already struck eight times in 14 matches in the current Norwegian campaign before agreeing to move to Orlando Stadium.

Ouaddou: ‘We needed this finisher’ –

Ouaddou made it clear the signing was not opportunistic, but the result of a targeted search for a different type of forward to complement Evidence Makgopa, Yanela Mbuthuma and Boitumelo Radiopane.

“The scouting department of the club I think was looking for a profile that can help us increase the average of conversion,” the Moroccan coach said.

“I know last season, we were the team in the continent who had the best average of chances (created), and we have some good players with us. I think he’s integrating with the group.”

Ouaddou believes Pedersen’s principal value lies in his effectiveness inside the area and his ability to complete attacking moves.

“As you have seen last season, we needed this finisher, this profile who can finish the actions.

“I think the scouting department have seen him, we have studied him and I think it’s somebody who can bring us his freshness, his quality and his competences.”

Settling in during Spain pre-season —

Pirates incorporated Pedersen into the squad during their recent pre-season tour of Spain, a phase Ouaddou views as crucial in helping the striker adapt both on and off the pitch before competitive games begin.

“It’s why it’s very important for us to have him with us for a couple of days in Spain trying to integrate him, because as you know you can be a good player, but when you come in a new environment, we have to make it easy for him and to integrate him in our collective,” he explained.

While Ouaddou stressed that the team already generates a high volume of opportunities, he repeatedly underlined that raising the conversion rate was the key motivation for bringing in Pedersen from Sogndal IL.

With Makgopa, Mbuthuma and Radiopane already in the squad, Pedersen adds a different attacking profile as Pirates refine their tactical approach under Ouaddou ahead of the new Betway Premiership campaign. The head coach is confident the Norwegian’s penalty-box instincts and recent scoring form can help transform dominance in chance creation into a more clinical edge in front of goal.