Ouaddou backs Luthuli to make an impact for Orlando Pirates

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has praised striker Sifiso Luthuli’s all-round ability since his return to the club, but says the 25-year-old must overcome a series of minor injuries before he can make his mark.

Luthuli rejoined Pirates at the start of the current season after completing the latter part of the previous campaign on loan at Magesi FC.

During his time with Magesi, Luthuli contributed one goal and four assists. His efforts, however, were not enough to prevent Dikwena tsa Meetse from being relegated.

Ouaddou said he had been impressed by what he had seen from the forward in training and believes Luthuli possesses the attributes required of a modern striker.

“What I see in training, what I have seen in him is full of the qualities of a modern striker. He’s tall. He’s able to play as a wall player and play to have the ball deep,” Ouaddou told the media.

“He can play in a combination. Can score with his left foot and right foot. Can score with his head. I think you are not you were not surprised last year in January when I said I don’t need a striker because I already have the material in the pilot, so this season he came back, and I think the technical staff trust him.

“Now I just hope that the injuries will stop because he has all the time some small injuries, and we have to work on that to strengthen him, to strengthen the legs, to strengthen the upper body.

“But he definitely he has he has good qualities to help Pirates, and I hope to see him soon. But he’s a really good profile.”

The Pirates manager highlighted Luthuli’s height, his ability to hold up the ball and his involvement in combination play as key strengths. He also pointed to the striker’s capacity to finish with either foot and to score with his head.

Those qualities explain why Ouaddou previously indicated that Pirates did not need to bring in another striker, saying the club already had the necessary option within its squad. Luthuli’s return has strengthened the technical staff’s belief in his potential, according to the coach.

The immediate priority, however, is helping Luthuli build greater physical strength and maintain his fitness. Ouaddou said the player had repeatedly suffered small injuries and that work was needed on both his legs and upper body.

Despite those concerns, the coach remains convinced that Luthuli has the profile to contribute to Pirates. He said he hoped to see the striker back in action soon and reiterated his belief that the forward has the qualities to help the club.