Pirates boss Ouaddou stands by misfiring Mbuthuma ahead of MTN8 semi-final

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says he will continue to trust striker Yanela Mbuthuma despite criticism of the forward’s goalscoring form, insisting he does not want to “kill” the confidence of a young South African talent.

Mbuthuma has divided opinion among Pirates supporters after struggling in front of goal, with some fans questioning why he continues to be selected. However, Ouaddou believes the striker’s work without the ball and his wider contribution remain important to the team.

If fit, Mbuthuma is expected to lead the Pirates attack in Saturday’s MTN8 semi-final first leg against Sekhukhune United at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

“It is a question that comes every time, and there are two schools of thought about it,” Ouaddou said when asked whether leaving Mbuthuma out might help the player recover his confidence.

“Media and fans can read the game but there is a difference between the vision from outside and what we get from the player during the week, where we see what he can do at training and during the game.

“The player is interesting for how we want to play in the league and the amount of work he does without the ball. We cannot take out all these good things he is doing that are important for our team.”

Ouaddou acknowledged that goals and statistics would ultimately be used to judge Mbuthuma’s season, but warned that removing him from the side could have the opposite effect to the one intended.

“At the end of the season, we are looking for statistics and data and the amount of goals. It is either you take out the boy and put him aside, and maybe he gets some confidence. On the other side, maybe you will ‘kill’ his confidence.”

The Pirates manager said the decision to continue selecting Mbuthuma had been made collectively, rather than by him alone.

“We have decided and it was not only me but the team that we are working together because the decision must not come from one person. We are working as a collective and we have decided to keep and trust him to give him a chance.

“If he was not good in the game, we could have taken the decision to let him down,” Ouaddou said.

Although he does not want to place undue pressure on the striker, Ouaddou made clear that he expects Mbuthuma to improve his finishing and contribute goals.

“I told him that in the game he is doing well but I am expecting the goals. I wanted to be clear about that because I am an honest coach. I hope that people are not going to misinterpret what I am saying because it is easy to say what I didn’t say.

“He is an Orlando Pirates player; we have a project and vision and we know that in the world of football sometimes players can have difficult moments we are here to support them.”

Ouaddou said Mbuthuma’s status as a young South African player made supporting him especially important.

“We are here as fathers and big brothers; we don’t have a choice to help these boys because they are South African. They are the young talent of the country and I cannot ‘kill’ a talent in my career as a coach,” he said.

“I need to keep on believing in him. Maybe when I get sacked you will take him out, but I still believe in him.”