Orlando Pirates boss Abdeslam Ouaddou asks for patience as attack rebuilds

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says his side’s rebuilding process is beginning to produce results after the departures of Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi, but insists the club needs time to adapt.

The Buccaneers are preparing to face Kruger United in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday after reshaping their attack during the transfer window. Mofokeng and Maswanganyi were both important members of the Pirates team that won a treble last season, but have since left for overseas clubs.

Mofokeng joined Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, while Maswanganyi moved to Bahrain Premier League club Alkhaldiya Sports Club.

Their departures have left Oswin Appollis needing to develop new attacking partnerships, with Ouaddou acknowledging the difficulty of replacing two players who made a significant contribution to the team’s success.

“We had very good profiles with Mofokeng, with Tito (Patrick Maswanganyi) and for a coach it’s not easy to lose these kind of profiles but it’s life, it’s the life of football,” Ouaddou said.

“I wish them all the best but now the life of the club must move on.”

Rather than attempting to replicate the qualities of the departed players, the French-Moroccan coach says Pirates must build a system suited to the strengths of the footballers now available to him.

“We have to use the profiles to find a system that is suitable. And we wanted to play fast with intensity, with these new profiles,” he said.

“But the most important for me is how we can limit touches in crowded areas where there is lots of pressure.”

Ouaddou believes Pirates made progress in that area during their 3-0 win over Sekhukhune in the second leg of their MTN8 semi-final. The result secured the Buccaneers’ place in the final and offered encouragement that the team is adjusting to the changes in its attacking line.

“We need to train them to take and make decisions before receiving the ball, for me that’s the challenge, to reduce touches in the crowded areas and I think they did it very well today,” he added.

The Pirates manager says the squad’s changes cannot be used to explain away poor performances, and that his responsibility is to find solutions while continuing to pursue success.

“My job is not to look for excuses, it’s to build, to find solutions and to keep bringing success and to win,” he said.

At the same time, Ouaddou accepts that the development of a younger and evolving team will not happen immediately.

“I’m not a magician, it takes some time, and some are not patient. But we’re seeing the fruit of the work, with youth we need to be patient as well.”

Pirates will have little opportunity to reflect on their semi-final success before returning to league action. Their next fixture is against Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 19:30.

Ouaddou will hope the momentum from the MTN8 victory continues into the Betway Premiership as Pirates seek further evidence that their new-look attack is beginning to settle following the exits of Mofokeng and Maswanganyi.