Ouaddou praises Evidence Makgopa after Champions League return

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou praised Evidence Makgopa for making the most of his return to action in their 4-0 win over Africa Stars in the second leg of the CAF Champions League second-round preliminary tie.

Makgopa scored twice and supplied an assist as Pirates completed a 5-0 aggregate victory against the Namibian side in Orlando on Friday.

The result secured the Buccaneers a place in the CAF Champions League group stage for the second time in three campaigns.

Makgopa, 26, had missed most of Pirates’ opening matches of the season because of injury. His performance provided a timely boost for Ouaddou, who said the Bafana Bafana international had given him another option as he prepares to manage his squad during the group stage.

“Regarding Evidence you know, his last regular game was last season, and we wanted to give him the opportunity today,” said Ouaddou.

“And I think he took it he was just fantastic. He was moving everywhere. He took the space. I was happy. Something that I told him to improve on was to hold the ball between the lines as a wall player, and he allowed us to play some layoff and to find the third man.

“And he’s scored It’s very positive for me. It’s an area that I want efficiency. And now I have [Boitumelo Radiopane] Radio, I have [Yanela] Mbuthuma, [Sebastian] Pedersen, [Sifiso] Luthuli, everybody is scoring.

“So it’s very good news for us because to get in the group stages will allow me to rotate and to give the opportunity to all the players. I have won one more player today again with Evidence.”

Ouaddou had specifically asked Makgopa to improve his ability to hold up the ball between the lines. The coach felt the striker’s movement and link-up play helped Pirates bring other players into their attacks.

The victory also gave Pirates greater depth in attack, with Makgopa joining Boitumelo Radiopane, Yanela Mbuthuma, Sebastian Pedersen and Sifiso Luthuli among the players scoring for the club.

With Pirates now into the group stage, Ouaddou said the competition would allow him to rotate his squad and provide opportunities to more members of his team.