Orlando Pirates held by AmaZulu as Ouaddou warns dropped points could prove costly

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou admitted his side may have surrendered two valuable points in the Betway Premiership title race after being held to a 1-1 draw by AmaZulu at Kings Park Stadium in Durban.

The reigning champions moved into second place, just behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs, following an entertaining contest on Wednesday night. AmaZulu also benefited from the result, with Arthur Zwane’s side climbing to third in the table.

Ouaddou’s team made the ideal start when Bafana Bafana winger Tshepang Moremi gave Pirates the lead in the seventh minute against his former club. But AmaZulu responded before the break, with in-form striker Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya equalising on the stroke of half-time.

Both teams pursued a winning goal after the interval, but neither could produce the decisive finish and they ultimately shared the points.

The result left Ouaddou frustrated by Pirates’ failure to make the most of their opportunities. He also criticised his side’s lack of control during the opening 45 minutes, saying their first-half display was so poor that he barely recognised the team despite its early advantage.

There was a more encouraging response after the interval, with the Pirates coach praising the improvement in his players’ performance during the second half. However, the missed chances ensured that the Buccaneers could not leave Durban with maximum points.

Ouaddou also cautioned against assuming that the draw represented a straightforward opportunity lost, arguing that many teams could find it difficult to take anything from AmaZulu at Kings Park Stadium during the campaign.

The Pirates manager suggested that the true significance of the result would only become clear later in the season. With the title race continuing to develop, he acknowledged that the dropped points could eventually carry a heavy cost, but stressed the challenge posed by Zwane’s side on home ground.

The coach also addressed the fitness of Evidence Makgopa and Thalente Mbatha, while discussing the injury suffered by Sihle Nduli after a heavy challenge from Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya.

Those fitness concerns add to the issues facing Pirates as the season gathers momentum, although the main disappointment from the match remained their inability to convert their chances and control the first half.

Ouaddou has also challenged the Pirates players who represented their countries at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to deliver more influential performances in the matches ahead. He wants his international players to assume greater responsibility as the Buccaneers attempt to remain in contention near the top of the Betway Premiership.

Pirates now sit second behind Kaizer Chiefs, while AmaZulu’s point lifted them into third, ensuring the draw had consequences at both ends of the leading places. But for Ouaddou, the outcome was shaped by a combination of AmaZulu’s resilience, Pirates’ wastefulness and a performance that improved only after the break.