Orlando Pirates strikers win Abdeslam Ouaddou praise after 4-0 victory

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou praised Yanela Mbuthuma and Boitumelo Radiopane after the two strikers scored in Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium.

Mbuthuma scored twice to open his account for the Buccaneers this season, while Radiopane and Gamphani Lungu completed a convincing victory that gave Orlando Pirates all three points.

The result came at an important time for Ouaddou’s attacking players. New signing Sebastian Pedersen is still waiting for his opportunity, while Evidence Makgopa remains sidelined by injury. With Orlando Pirates preparing to begin their CAF Champions League campaign, Ouaddou welcomed the goals from Mbuthuma and Radiopane.

The club will face Mauritius side La Cure Sylvester away in the first round on Sunday. Orlando Pirates also have the MTN8 final ahead, making the timing of the forward players’ goals particularly significant for the coach.

“There are some games where we create a lot of chances and we don’t manage to be efficient. And in this game we didn’t create many chances, but we were able to score four goals. Well done to the boys,” Ouaddou told the media during the post-match press conference.

“These goals came in a very important moment where we will play the Champions League and the MTN8 final, so I think it is really important for the boys to start to score and bring that competition into the team.”

Despite the emphatic scoreline, Ouaddou said Orlando Pirates had not produced their best performance. He admitted that his team needed greater control of matches but identified the clean sheet and four goals as the main positives from the night.

“We need to improve for the next game because we need to have more control. If I have to take something positive, it is how we defend, and the four goals are very important for goal difference,” he said.

“There are games like that. Of course we want the boys to play better, but in terms of beautiful football, I cannot say we had a good game.

“But sometimes it is like that; it’s football. We cannot play nice football all the time. I think we were very efficient today [Tuesday], as we came here with a mission to take three points, and we scored four goals, and we didn’t concede.

“I think it’s a successful mission for my boys. Well done to them, and there is room for improvement.”

The coach’s focus will now turn to the CAF Champions League, a competition in which Orlando Pirates want to make a deeper run after being eliminated at an early stage last season.

Ouaddou said that disappointment remained in the team’s thoughts as they prepared for their opening tie against La Cure Sylvester.

“The Champions League is one competition that is important to us. We know last season we went out very early.”