Orlando Pirates boss Ouaddou demands focus against La Cure Sylvester

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says his side will treat La Cure Sylvester as a serious threat when the Mauritian club visit Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers face the Indian Ocean island side in the second leg of their Champions League preliminary round tie, with the contest finely balanced at 0-0 after the opening match in Mauritius.

Pirates must find a way to score if they are to avoid a penalty shoot-out or an early exit, but Ouaddou insists attacking intent cannot come at the expense of defensive organisation.

“It depends on your game model. Sometimes you can attack and still keep the shape to prevent the transitions from the opposition,” he said.

“We have worked on keeping shape and we are prepared. We know how we want to start the game. We know how we want to use the weaknesses of the opponent.

“I have never underestimated an opponent, especially as someone who has played on our continent for 12 to 13 years as an international player.”

Ouaddou believes La Cure Sylvester’s performance in the first leg demonstrated how quickly a less-fancied team can compete with an established opponent.

“There are no small teams anymore on the continent. People are able to see and analyse what you do. If you have decent preparation, in two matches you can disturb big teams.

“With motivation and fighting spirit, sometimes you can match the big teams. That’s what they did when we went to Mauritius, but we are prepared.”

The Pirates coach made several changes to his starting lineup for the first meeting, giving Champions League experience to Sbangani Zulu, Cristian Derbyshire, Simphiwe Selepe, Mthetheleni Mthiyane and Camren Dansin. Neo Rapoo, Kabelo Kgositsile and Bohlale Ngwato were introduced from the bench.

Ouaddou said the club’s current squad is undergoing a period of transition, with seven to eight experienced players from the teams used in the Champions League last season and two years ago no longer available.

“We have a young team, and some of them are discovering the Champions League this season. If you see the team that participated in the Champions League last season and two years ago, we have about seven to eight experienced players that are gone.

“We have to be more aggressive, have more impact and play the type of football with more transitions. It is important to keep the principles of how we want to play, but that depends on the pitch that we play on.”

The surface in Mauritius also influenced Pirates’ approach, according to Ouaddou, who says his players must adapt rather than rely on a single style.

“Sometimes you have to be careful, and in Mauritius we had a turf and we were able to play. Sometimes you must consider the pitch and change the way you want to play.

“Sometimes you will go direct if the conditions of the pitch don’t allow you, but if the conditions allow we will play. In football you cannot be one-dimensional. You must be able to give answers to impact.

“Sometimes you will be simple by making less touches on the ball where it is crowded. It is important to think before receiving the ball because it is important to scan and take information so that you are able to make a good decision.”