Ouaddou sees bright future for young Orlando Pirates squad after MTN8 defeat

Abdeslam Ouaddou believes Orlando Pirates’ young players are progressing rapidly despite their 2-0 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns in Saturday’s MTN8 final.

The result at Moses Mabhida Stadium gave The Brazilians revenge for their 2024-25 Nedbank Cup final defeat and for losing their eight-season Betway Premiership title run to Pirates last season. It also ended the Buccaneers’ bid for a fifth consecutive MTN8 crown.

Teboho Mokoena put Sundowns ahead after 12 minutes, before Ronwen Williams saved Gamphani Lungu’s penalty in the 62nd minute. Iqraam Rayners then sealed victory from the spot five minutes into added time.

Sundowns, the Caf Champions League holders, were worthy winners in a contest both managers described as being between “the two best teams in the country”. However, Pirates matched them for long periods, with Ouaddou encouraged by the performance of his emerging players.

Lebone Seema, 23, was one of those to impress. The central defender’s display came after he made his Bafana Bafana debut last Sunday, helping a largely second-string side beat a near full-strength Egypt 1-0 in a friendly. Seema also kept Tottenham Hotspur and former Manchester City star Omar Marmoush quiet during that match.

Ouaddou said Seema’s development had been driven by his attitude and willingness to learn.

“Seema did a lot of work with seriousness, with professionalism, because he wants to get to a high level,” said the Moroccan, who won more than 60 caps and enjoyed a 17-year club career in France, England, Greece and Qatar.

“First of all, you need to work, daily work; to listen. You need to be coachable. And he’s a fantastic boy. He accepts, sometimes, being criticised. He listens and he progresses.”

Ouaddou said he had encouraged Seema to combine his ability to play attractive football with the practical demands of defending.

“I always tell him there is the beautiful game [and] it’s important to keep this quality, to find the players between the lines, to play short, to play long, to be beautiful,” he said.

“But the high level sometimes asks you to be rough, to be efficient. Sometimes it’s not a shame if you have to put the ball in the stands because you want to keep the clean sheet. It’s part of your job and I call this the ‘emergency situation’.”

He added: “You can see that, step by step, he became a real high-level defender. And I am sure there is room to be even better and I predict a great, great, great future for him if he continues to work, continues to listen in his career.”

Seema is part of a recent Pirates production line that has also included Lyle Foster, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Relebohile Mofokeng, who is now impressing in Belgium. Cemran Dansin, Mpho Padime and new signing Neo Rapoo are also regarded as players with significant potential.

South Africa’s central-defensive options also include Ime Okon, Olwethu Makhanya, Khulumani Ndamane and Malibongwe Khoza. Mbokazi has impressed in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, while Makhanya made his case in Pitso Mosimane’s first two matches back as national coach, against Guinea and Eritrea in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ouaddou was also pleased by the contributions of 22-year-old Simphiwe Selepe, 23-year-old playmaker Thapelo Mokobodi and substitute Kabelo Kgosietsile. Selepe was replaced in the second half by 21-year-old Siphiwe Masilela, who was part of Pirates’ 2025-26 DStv Diski Challenge under-23 league-winning side.

“We are disappointed, of course, not to take this fifth MTN8 cup. But there is a lot of education in that game for us because I have really seen some quality players in my side,” Ouaddou said.

“I’m very happy about [Thalente] Mbatha’s game he was injured, he came back so it’s somebody I can bring back into our team. And I have again seen some young players like Masilela and Selepe.”

Pirates will now turn their attention to the Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup, Champions League and the defence of their league title.

Both coaches described the final as being played at “a Champions League level”, and Ouaddou believes those occasions are vital to the development of his squad.

Pirates begin their Champions League campaign this weekend with a two-legged qualifying tie against Angola’s Wiliete SC. They will hope to progress beyond last season’s exit at this stage and improve on their semi-final appearance in 2024-25.