Ouaddou praises Da Cruz and Chiefs’ project after Soweto Derby win

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has backed Kaizer Chiefs’ technical staff and urged the club’s supporters to give them time to develop their ideas, despite his side’s victory over the Glamour Boys in the Soweto Derby.

It is unusual for a manager to praise a rival immediately after taking three points, particularly following one of the most fiercely contested fixtures in professional football. Ouaddou, however, offered a positive assessment of the work being carried out at Naturena.

“The technical staff of Kaizer Chiefs are doing a great job,” Ouaddou said.

“We must let them work. Implementing their game model, these guys have a very good team, very good young players. I think in my opinion, they’re on the right path,” he told the media after the match.

Ouaddou also rejected the idea that Chiefs should be written off in the title race following the defeat, pointing to the progress made under manager Fernando Da Cruz.

“We don’t have to wrap them out from the title race,” he said.

The Orlando Pirates manager stressed that Chiefs remain a significant club regardless of the result.

“This is a big club. This is a big club with big fans and this technical team is doing a great job.”