Ouaddou says winning mentality is driving Orlando Pirates’ trophy defence

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says he inherited a club with a “mentality of winners” as he prepares his side for a Carling Knockout quarter-final against Sekhukhune United.

Pirates have become one of the most successful teams in South African football in recent years, and Ouaddou has maintained the progress made under his predecessor Jose Riveiro.

The Moroccan coach has also taken the club a step further by leading them to their first Betway Premiership title in 14 years.

The Buccaneers are now defending their Carling Knockout crown and will meet Sekhukhune at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking to journalists at the PSL headquarters on Thursday, Ouaddou explained that the club’s desire to win was already firmly established when he arrived.

“I found a mentality of winners, I found a mentality of a club that wants to win everything, so it’s what I found,” Ouaddou said.

“I tried to stay in that standard with the players. Of course, it’s an important cup for us, you can see the way we play, the competition, the commitment of the players when we’re playing these games.

“It’s not a competition we underestimate. I found hunger in the club and we’re still…what can I tell you, we’re still starving,” added the 48-year-old Moroccan-French coach.

Ouaddou, who previously managed Marumo Gallants, has already begun preparing his players for a difficult contest against Sekhukhune.

The opponents are now under the full leadership of Papi Zothwane after the departure of Cedric Kaze. Ouaddou said he started planning for the match immediately after the derby and warned his players not to underestimate a team he believes will be motivated by recent disappointment.

“I started to plan for the game straight-away after the derby, I already spoke to the players, it will be one of the most difficult games. Why? Because I said to my boys, ‘We need to be careful about a team that has been hurt’ and against a coach who is in charge now,” he said.

Ouaddou believes Zothwane will have greater authority to impose his ideas now that he is fully in charge of Sekhukhune.

“Maybe before, I don’t know if he (Zothwane) had the full control to put all his ideas on the table but now he is in charge. I remember against Richards Bay last season, we had a lot of problems, so it will be a difficult game, we need to be at the highest of our form to win that game, because we’re defending our title, it’s a very tough opponent,” he added.