Orlando Pirates boss Abdeslam Ouaddou backs Yanela Mbuthuma despite scoring struggles

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says the club will continue to support Yanela Mbuthuma despite the striker scoring only once in his past 17 matches.

Mbuthuma, 24, is in his second season with the Buccaneers and has faced criticism from sections of the club’s fan base over his lack of goals. Some of the reaction on social media has crossed into abuse of the player.

Speaking before Orlando Pirates’ MTN 8 semi-final first leg against Sekhukhune United, Ouaddou acknowledged that goals and statistics are important and said he had discussed the issue directly with Mbuthuma.

However, the coach insists the striker’s wider contribution remains valuable to the team. Ouaddou said he and his technical staff have chosen to retain faith in Mbuthuma after assessing his work in training and in matches.

He also warned that dropping the forward could damage his confidence rather than restore it.

“You have two schools of thought when you analyze a game as a tactician, not like just a fan, I don’t say that the fan cannot read the game,” said Ouaddou.

“Of course, the media, the fans can read the game, but there is a difference between the vision from outside and the vision that we can get from the pitch and to have the player all the week and seeing what he can do in training in the games. I already spoke about that issue.

“The player is interesting about how we want to play the league that is creating in the team the amount of work that is doing without the ball.

“So now we cannot take out these good things that he is doing that are important for our team. Now, of course, that I share this with you and with everybody. At the end of the season, we are looking for stats, we are looking for datas, and we are looking for the amount of goals.

“So there are two thoughts. Or you take out the boy, you put him on the side, and you bring him, maybe you can have some confidence, but on the other side, nobody can predict maybe you can kill his confidence as well.

“So we have chosen, not only me, we are team that is working together in Pirates, we are working as a collective, and we have decided to keep trust in him to give him a chance.

“Because if he was not good in the game and he is not scoring, yeah, maybe we can take the decision to let him down.

“But I really think, and I told him that the game, proper game, he is doing well, and yes, now I’m expecting the goal. So I wanted to be clear about that, and because you asked me the question, and like I told you, I’m an honest coach, I try to answer you. I hope not people going to interpret again what I am saying because it’s easy to interpret and to say what I didn’t say.

“But he’s a player of Pirates. We have a project. We have a vision, and we know in the world of football that sometimes some players can have a difficult moment, and we are here to support them. They are our players.We are here as fathers, as big brothers, and we don’t have a choice but to help this boy. They are South Africans don’t forget it. They are South African.

“They are young talent of the country and I cannot kill a talent. Never in my career as a coach, I cannot kill a talent. I need to believe and to keep believe on him. And of course, until maybe when I’ve been sacked, maybe you will say you should take him off. But I still believe on him.”

Ouaddou said the decision had been made collectively within the Orlando Pirates coaching and technical structure, rather than by him alone.

The Moroccan coach accepted that Mbuthuma will ultimately be judged on his statistics and goals, but believes the forward is performing well in the “proper game” and remains capable of making an important contribution.

For now, the club’s approach is to give the South African forward continued opportunities and backing while expecting him to end his difficult run in front of goal.