Ouaddou set to recall experienced players for Orlando Pirates’ Champions League decider

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says he will select a more experienced side for Saturday’s CAF Champions League first preliminary round second leg against La Cure Waves at Orlando Amstel Arena (15:00).

The two teams drew 0-0 in Mauritius last Sunday, with Pirates needing a victory at home to secure progress to the next stage of the competition.

Ouaddou made several changes for the first leg, handing 20-year-old defender Cristian Derbyshire his senior debut. Fringe players Simphiwe Selepe and Daniel Msendami also started, although Msendami has since returned to former club Marumo Gallants on a season-long loan.

The coach said those decisions were part of a wider effort to manage his squad and ensure all of his players remained involved.

“In that first game, it was important for me to give opportunities to some players. As you know, it’s important to manage the players, to keep everybody involved in the project,” Ouaddou told a news conference at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday.

“I always say that you win games with 11 players, but you win titles with the group, so I felt that it was the right moment for me to give a chance to some players and I can say that some of them gave me a very good satisfaction.

“It means that when I need them, I will be able to give them a chance again because they were really good, but tomorrow [Saturday] it will be another game, definitely because we have to qualify. It will be another team, another profile of the players. We will definitely show other profiles of players.”

Experienced trio Evidence Makgopa, Thalente Mbatha and Nkosinathi Sibisi took part in Friday’s training session after missing recent matches because of injuries.

Their involvement could strengthen a Pirates side aiming to convert home advantage into a place in the next round.

Ouaddou believes his team remains well placed to complete the job despite failing to score in the away leg.

“We had the first half in Mauritius. We went there to get a result and at least score a goal … we didn’t, but have a chance here at home to go through to the next stage,” the Pirates coach said.