Orlando Pirates urge patience as Cemran Dansin makes winning start

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has called for patience over the growing attention surrounding 21-year-old midfielder Cemran Dansin after his Man of the Match display in the Buccaneers’ 2-0 Betway Premiership win over Milford FC.

Dansin played the full 90 minutes at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday afternoon, helping Orlando Pirates begin their new league campaign with victory. His composed performance in midfield was rewarded with the individual award, but Ouaddou says the club will continue to manage the youngster’s development carefully rather than rush him into the spotlight.

The Moroccan coach said Pirates had taken deliberate steps to introduce Dansin gradually, with the intention of protecting his progress and allowing him time to develop.

“We have to be very careful. We have to be very careful because I’ve been in the business for a while. The boy is doing well. We took time to bring this young player in. You remember last season, we decided to put him in a very big game against Mamelodi Sundowns, and he get a fantastic goal,” Ouaddou said.

Dansin had already made an impression last season when he was selected for a major match against Mamelodi Sundowns and scored what Ouaddou described as a fantastic goal. However, the coach believes strong performances must be matched by continued hard work and humility as the midfielder’s career develops.

Ouaddou also explained that Dansin’s gradual integration into the first team was part of a planned approach, despite some people questioning why he had not been introduced more quickly.

“He was most of the games with us. We have detected the talent that you, you don’t have to burn this talent. So it’s why step by step people didn’t understand why it took such time to bring him, but we knew what we were doing. At the same time, I want to be very cautious about us not to put this boy quickly high because a career is long. So he’s doing well and we will give him all our trust, all our help to bring him to the high level. The boy still need a lot of work to bring him in the highest level but, at the moment, he is doing well. Dansin will need a lot of humility and not to listen about what people are saying outside the environment,” Ouaddou concluded about the 21-year-old.

Dansin’s latest display followed an encouraging pre-season tour of Spain, where he further strengthened his case for a greater role in the senior side. His inclusion in the starting XI against Milford FC represented another step in that progression, and he responded by producing a mature performance throughout the match.

Although the midfielder has now attracted additional praise after helping Orlando Pirates secure an opening-day win, Ouaddou remains focused on the longer-term picture. The coach says Dansin still has considerable work to do before reaching the highest level, but has assured him of the club’s support as he continues his development.

For now, the priority at Orlando Pirates is to build on Dansin’s potential without allowing expectations surrounding him to become overwhelming.