Lekoelea warns Pirates rotation policy could backfire despite winning run

Orlando Pirates legend Steve Lekoelea has warned head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou that his frequent changes to the starting line-up could eventually harm the team, despite the club continuing to produce positive results.

Ouaddou has regularly altered his team this season while maintaining Pirates’ form. Their latest success came on Tuesday evening, when they defeated Kruger United 4-0 in a Betway Premiership match at Mbombela Stadium.

However, Lekoelea believes the coach is taking a risk by leaving in-form players out of the side, arguing that excessive rotation can disrupt a player’s rhythm and confidence.

“The Orlando Pirates starting line-up changes a lot; the first XI is being changed too much,” Lekoelea told KickOff.

The former Pirates playmaker, who became known as ‘Chippa’ during his playing career, pointed to Boitumelo Radiopane as an example. The young striker scored and supplied an assist in one match, but was left out of the starting line-up for the next game.

“I find it very difficult to understand. Maybe the coach is trying to give every player in the team a chance… I don’t know,” said Lekoelea.

“Somewhere, somehow, it will backfire.”

Lekoelea entertained supporters in the famous Black and White jersey from the 1990s into the 2000s and was the last player to wear Pirates’ number 10 shirt in the league. He believes players who are performing well should remain in the team rather than being moved to the bench.

“That’s the only way you help him perform at the level you expect. Resting a player who is performing well will only kill his momentum, especially doing that to a player like Radiopane.”

He also used Yanela Mbuthuma’s recent form to underline his argument. Mbuthuma had missed opportunities in earlier matches but continued to be selected by Pirates. On Tuesday, he responded by scoring twice against Kruger United.

“Yanela Mbuthuma had his chance; he missed chances, but because they continued fielding him even though he was struggling, on Tuesday he scored two goals. That’s why it’s important for players to be given enough chances on the pitch.

The former Bafana Bafana international accepts that Pirates are currently winning matches, but believes the team’s selection policy could become a problem if the results change.

Lekoelea said Pirates’ greater experience was decisive in their emphatic victory over Kruger United, while expressing surprise that the scoreline was so one-sided.

“What beat Kruger United was the experience of the Pirates squad,” he said.

“I still can’t figure out how Kruger lost the match 4-0. I think it has to do with what Pirates learned in Spain. Spanish football is good when it comes to unlocking defences,” adds Lekoelea.

Pirates will now turn their attention to the CAF Champions League. They travel to face Mauritian club La Cure Waves away from home in the first leg of the first preliminary round on Sunday.