Orlando Pirates boss Ouaddou sees bright future despite MTN8 final defeat

Abdeslam Ouaddou believes Orlando Pirates’ young players are developing rapidly despite their 2-0 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns in Saturday’s MTN8 final.

The result at Moses Mabhida Stadium denied Pirates a fifth successive MTN8 title, while Sundowns gained revenge for their 2024-25 Nedbank Cup final defeat and for surrendering an eight-season Betway Premiership title run to the Buccaneers last season.

The final was a competitive contest between what both coaches described as “the two best teams in the country”. Teboho Mokoena put Sundowns ahead after 12 minutes before Iqraam Rayners sealed victory from the penalty spot five minutes into added time.

Pirates had a chance to equalise when Gamphani Lungu won a penalty in the 62nd minute, but Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saved the spot-kick. Ouaddou accepted that the CAF Champions League holders deserved the victory, while emphasising that his younger side had again competed strongly against more experienced opponents.

One of the biggest positives was the display of 23-year-old central defender Lebone Seema, who made his Bafana Bafana debut in a 1-0 friendly win over Egypt last Sunday. Seema impressed against a near full-strength Egypt side, including Tottenham Hotspur and former Manchester City star Omar Marmoush, before producing another assured performance against Sundowns’ attack.

His defensive maturity and ability to pass accurately over short distances or across 60m have marked him out as one of South Africa’s most promising young centre-backs since the 1990s.

“Seema did a lot of work with seriousness, with professionalism, because he wants to get to a high level,” said Ouaddou, who won more than 60 caps for Morocco and spent 17 years playing in France, England, Greece and Qatar.

“He accepts, sometimes, being criticised. He listens and he progresses.”

Ouaddou said Seema had learned to balance attractive football with the practical demands of defending.

“There is the beautiful game, and it’s important to keep this quality, to find the players between the lines, to play short, to play long,” he said. “But the high level sometimes asks you to be rough, to be efficient.

“Sometimes it’s not a shame if you have to put the ball in the stands because you want to keep the clean sheet. It’s part of your job.”

The coach added: “Step by step, he became a real high-level defender. I predict a great, great, great future for him if he continues to work and continues to listen.”

Seema faces competition for a place in the Bafana Bafana defence from Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Ime Okon, Rangers FC’s Olwethu Makhanya, Khulumani Ndamane and Malibongwe Khoza.

Ouaddou was also encouraged by the performances of 22-year-old Simphiwe Selepe, 21-year-old substitute Siphiwe Masilela, 23-year-old Thapelo Mokobodi and Kabelo Kgosietsile. Thalente Mbatha also returned from injury.

“There is a lot of education in that game for us because I have really seen some quality players in my side,” Ouaddou said.

Pirates will now turn their attention to the Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup, league title defence and CAF Champions League, where they face Angola’s Wiliete SC in a two-legged group-stage qualifier from this weekend. The club will aim to improve on last season’s exit at that stage and match or surpass their 2024-25 semi-final appearance.