Lekgwathi admits Ouaddou’s latest Pirates exit warning is ‘unsettling’

Former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi says Abdeslam Ouaddou’s latest suggestion that he could leave the club is “unsettling”, particularly because the coach questioned his future at the end of last season.

Ouaddou again placed his position at Pirates under scrutiny after Saturday’s CAF Champions League victory over La Cure Waves.

The Moroccan coach became frustrated after his side appeared to lose intensity once they had taken control of the match. He warned that he would “pack my luggage” if his players continued to showboat rather than finish the game properly.

It is the latest in a series of public comments in which Ouaddou has hinted that he could walk away from the club.

After leading Pirates to the Betway Premiership title last season, Ouaddou said he was exhausted and needed to think carefully about whether to continue. He also disclosed that he had offered his resignation following the team’s opening two league defeats, before being persuaded by the club to remain in charge.

Lekgwathi, who captained Pirates during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, told IOL Sport that the coach’s latest remarks would inevitably worry supporters.

“As a fan of the club, I don’t like to see that obviously, it’s unsettling but we are all human with emotions. I used to say things as captain and later regret them and that’s a part of learning leadership and I hope he really learns to know what not to say in the media and in the changeroom.”

The former captain said, however, that Ouaddou continued to enjoy the backing of the Pirates support.

“Just like every fan, we are backing him and we know he’ll help the team win again.”

Ouaddou’s central concern is what he regards as a lack of seriousness among some players, especially when they try to display their skills instead of putting matches beyond doubt.

Lekgwathi believes the coach should be careful not to suppress the flair traditionally associated with Pirates. He encouraged Ouaddou to accept showboating while ensuring his players understand when it is appropriate.

“My advice to him about showboating would be for him to embrace it because it’s a part of us but also it’s important to look at the time and the score when players decide to do that because it used to help us in moments, whether to switch momentum of the game or ease pressure off us.”

For Lekgwathi, the answer is not to remove that style from the team, but to help players judge the correct moment to use it.

Ouaddou’s latest warning comes after earlier uncertainty about his future. Following Pirates’ title success, he initially indicated that he was considering his next step, but returned for the new campaign and said he had “recharged all my batteries”.

His position has now become a talking point again, despite Saturday’s victory securing Pirates’ progression in the CAF Champions League. Lekgwathi nevertheless remains confident that Ouaddou can lead the Buccaneers forward.