Orlando Pirates’ clinical edge gives Abdeslam Ouaddou confidence for CAF Champions League challenge

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes his side’s ability to convert limited chances into goals could prove decisive as they begin their CAF Champions League campaign.

Pirates travel to face Le Cure Sylvester in Mauritius in the preliminary round first leg on Sunday, aiming to make a strong start to their bid for a place in the group stage. The South African club were eliminated by St Eloi Lupopo in the final qualifying round last season.

Ouaddou said the continental fixture was now the priority after Pirates’ convincing 4-0 win over Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday.

“We’ve got a Champions League game to play which we know is very important for us, especially knowing that we went out early,” said Ouaddou. “So, it’s only after that that we’ll have time to think about the MTN8.”

The victory strengthened Pirates’ position at the top of the Betway Premiership and came with an important boost for the club’s attacking options. Boitumelo Radiopane provided an assist, while Yanela Mbuthuma scored twice after the break.

With Sebastien Pedersen still adapting to Ouaddou’s tactical approach, the coach was encouraged by the performances of Radiopane and Mbuthuma, who increased competition for places in the final third.

“There are some games where we’ve created a lot of chances, but we didn’t manage to be efficient,” Ouaddou said. “In this game, we didn’t create a lot of chances, but we managed to score four goals. Well done to the boys.

“These goals came during an important phase of the season where we’ll play in the Champions League and MTN8. So, I think it’s really important for the boys to score and bring a healthy competition that will be important going forward.”

The result extended a strong start to the season for Pirates, who have had to cope with structural changes, player departures and injuries to key members of the squad. They are also through to the MTN8 final, where they will meet Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ouaddou wants that momentum to carry into the continental competition, but he is aware that the Kruger United match was more demanding than the scoreline suggested. The newcomers remain at the bottom of the standings and threatened to shift the contest in the closing stages of the first half.

Pirates’ defensive record was another source of satisfaction for the coach. They have conceded only twice in seven matches this season and recorded another clean sheet against Kruger United.

“We were playing away, and we couldn’t afford to underestimate this Kruger side,” Ouaddou said. “When you see the lineup of this team, they have experienced players who have played in the big leagues.

“They have the experience of big games. So, it was important for us not to concede. We know that when we are strong in defence, we have a 99.9% chance of winning the game. The boys were strong defensively.

“They tried to block the space, and allowed us to play in transition. We caught them and exploited the space that they left us. We cannot always focus on beautiful football. We had a mission to win here today, and we did that. It was a successful mission.”

The progress made under Ouaddou has been significant since last season’s disappointment in the CAF Champions League qualifiers. His failure to reach the group stage had led some supporters to question whether he could follow the foundations established by Jose Riveiro, who had guided Pirates to a semi-final finish in continental competition.

Club officials retained their faith in the Moroccan, who responded by leading Pirates to the Betway Premiership title and ending a 14-year wait for the league crown. He also won the MTN8 for a fourth successive time and ended the club’s long-standing difficulty in the newly rebranded Carling Knockout.

Pirates will now seek to turn their domestic form and attacking efficiency into a positive result against Le Cure Sylvester, with the first leg offering Ouaddou’s side an opportunity to set the tone for another demanding season.