Orlando Pirates boss Abdeslam Ouaddou demands greater physical resilience for CAF Champions League

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says his young squad must adapt quickly to the physical demands of high-pressure matches as they prepare for CAF Champions League football.

Ouaddou was speaking after Pirates were beaten 2-0 by Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

The defeat denied the Buccaneers a historic fifth consecutive MTN8 title and prompted questions about whether they can cope with the intensity and physicality required in decisive matches.

Those demands will be tested again in continental competition, where Pirates will need to show greater resilience, discipline and game management.

Similar concerns emerged after last season’s Soweto Derby, which ended in a 1-1 draw and almost derailed Pirates’ Betway Premiership title challenge.

Ouaddou accepts that his players have to improve their response when matches become more physical, but he insists that greater aggression must remain within the laws of the game.

“We just need to answer to those physical games. It can happen in the Champions League and, like I said, we have a young team, but they need to understand this quickly,” he said.

The Moroccan coach stressed that he was not calling for dangerous tackles or an approach that could put opposing players at risk. His message was that Pirates must become more competitive without abandoning fair play or their footballing principles.

“When I say answer to these games, I mean answer within the rules of the game and play football, not to injure players or break legs of players, that’s not my vision of football,” he added.

Ouaddou used his own experience as a defender to explain the difference between physical defending and reckless conduct.

“I was a defender, in my 17 years playing football I received one red card and it was for protesting, not for killing someone,” he said.

Pirates have developed a reputation for attacking football, but Ouaddou’s comments underline the need for the team to add another dimension as they move into CAF Champions League competition.

The loss to Sundowns provided a further lesson for the coach and his players, who must now turn their attention to addressing the weaknesses exposed in the final.

For a young squad, the immediate task is to learn how to handle matches in which the tempo, pressure and physical contest become more demanding. Ouaddou believes that process must begin quickly if Pirates are to meet the challenges ahead.

Their progress in the coming weeks will show whether they can convert the lessons from the MTN8 final and last season’s Soweto Derby into improved performances on the continental stage.