Ouaddou backs Pirates players to honour Bafana duty despite crowded schedule

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says his players must fully commit to South Africa duty, despite the short turnaround between the national team’s match against Egypt and the MTN8 final.

The MTN8 final against Mamelodi Sundowns will take place on 10 October, just six days after the international friendly with Egypt. That fixture follows 2027 AFCON Qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea.

Pirates have six players in the Bafana squad, creating a demanding period for the club’s players as they compete on domestic and continental fronts.

The 2025/26 treble winners have made a busy start to the new campaign. They are involved in the CAF Champions League preliminary rounds and remain unbeaten after seven rounds of the Betway Premiership.

Pirates are second in the league with 19 points, one point behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played a game more.

Ouaddou was asked whether he had reached an agreement with the South African Football Association (SAFA) for his players to return early and receive rest before the MTN8 final, also referred to as the Wafa-Wafa final.

The coach said he would not interfere with international-team matters and would release the players for the full period of their call-up. He added that representing their country had to be treated with the appropriate respect.

“I’ve been an international for 13 years, playing four African Cups,” said Ouaddou.

“So, when it’s time to wear the international uniform for the country, to represent the country, it’s time to go to represent your country. It’s like when the army calls somebody to defend the country. It’s time and I don’t have nothing to do about that.

“I just have to release them to give the best for South African football and to respect the SAFA, to respect the competition. Of course, these players will not have rest but it’s the job of when you are an international. We cannot choose.

“It’s time to go to compete for your country. It’s time to go to represent your nation. It’s time to go to represent your people, and you have to be proud.

“And even if you are tired, you don’t have to feel the tiredness because you are going to represent your people. It’s like when you are a soldier.”

Ouaddou said his own experience as a Morocco international, including four African Cups, had shaped his view of national-team commitments.

He believes club coaches must accept that players cannot select when they represent their country, even when international matches leave little time for recovery before important domestic fixtures.