Ouaddou explains why in-form Sigomoshe missed Soweto Derby

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says he left Bulelani Sigomoshe out of the starting line-up for the Soweto Derby to protect the new signing from the pressure of the occasion.

The decision saw veteran Deon Hotto start at right-back in Pirates’ 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs, despite Sigomoshe’s impressive displays in the previous two matches.

Sigomoshe, who joined Pirates from Milford, had stepped in while regular right-back Kamogelo Sebelebele recovered from injury. His assured performances had earned praise as he adapted quickly to the Buccaneers.

But with approximately 100,000 spectators watching the derby, Ouaddou chose the experience of 36-year-old Hotto, who is primarily a left-back.

“Yes, when I speak about this choice, and sometimes you have to accept it, you cannot at this moment blame the players. I had the choice to make,” Ouaddou told the media.

“I talked to you about the magnitude of the game, but now today we have maybe 100,000 people. A player that was doing well in the previous games, Sigomoshe, until the last moment, I have decided to put Hotto there, about his experience, and because the opponent on his side was right-footed there, I was thinking that it could work there to stop him, and to protect as well Sigomoshe, because he did well in the last game, really, I’m happy.”

Ouaddou said he did not want to expose Sigomoshe to the risk of being overwhelmed by a match that can have a significant impact on players’ careers.

“For somebody to integrate so easily, coming from Milford to such a big club, I think just congratulations to him, but I didn’t want to burn him, because this kind of game is 50-50,” he said.

“You can be successful, but you can burn yourself as well. So I don’t want this, so I decided to put an experienced guy there.”

Ouaddou accepts responsibility

The change helped protect Sigomoshe, but it also affected Pirates’ attacking threat on the right.

Hotto’s selection limited the forward runs and penetration normally provided by the full-back in Ouaddou’s system. Pirates lacked depth and runs in behind during the first half, with the coach acknowledging that the tactical compromise had reduced the team’s effectiveness.

“It didn’t work properly there, and we didn’t have the deep, we didn’t have the runs by behind, like Sebelebele can have, like a few full-backs can have on that side,” Ouaddou said.

“You know our game model, that the full-backs are very important, and I think we didn’t help, I didn’t help the team, especially in the first half.”

Although Orlando Pirates secured the win and moved top, Ouaddou accepted that the decision was his responsibility and said he would review it with his technical staff.

“So it’s something that I have to take, to analyse with my technical stuff, but nobody is perfect, and you can see that some coaches can make mistakes as well,” he said.