Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou threatens to quit over showboating

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has warned he could leave the club if his players continue to showboat during matches, despite their 3-1 victory over La Cure Waves in the CAF Champions League first qualifying round, second leg on Saturday.

Pirates had drawn 0-0 in the first leg in Mauritius, but fell behind at Orlando Stadium when Ivan Ami scored early for the visitors. The Buccaneers responded almost immediately, with Kabelo Kgosietsile equalising two minutes later.

Kamogelo Sebebele and Yanela Mbuthuma then added further goals to put Orlando Pirates 3-1 ahead before half-time.

However, the home side’s intensity fell after the interval. Rather than continuing to attack, the players began circulating the ball without urgency and attempting individual tricks as the sun went down over Orlando Stadium.

Ouaddou was visibly frustrated in his post-match news conference, saying his team had failed to finish off their Mauritian opponents.

“The rhythm dropped when we stopped being serious, when we started to showboat. We have to understand that if we have to win the (CAF) Champions League, if we want to be ambitious to go far, we really need to understand that football is going forward,” Ouaddou told reporters at Orlando Stadium.

“Football is scoring goals, football is taking chances. I was really not happy with the second-half. We need to be more serious, please, because to win the Champions League…we have the ambition to win the Champions League, we don’t have to hide it, we messed up.

“It doesn’t help the team, it doesn’t serve anybody, it just serves the ego of the player doing these things and it doesn’t help our team. What I want as a coach, I want goals, goals and that’s it, it’s what I want,” he added.

The former Marumo Gallants coach said he would not tolerate that approach, particularly when his side had the opportunity to score more goals.

“If my players are satisfied with three goals, I think we lack ambition and we cannot go far, I’m sorry. I’m not going to lie to people. We must take this job seriously, football is about scoring goals,” the Moroccan-French coach said.

Ouaddou made clear that his principles would not change, even if it meant ending his time in charge.

“The moment I will accept this showboating, I’m sorry, you know what, I will leave everything and I will pack my luggage and I stop training, because it will not be my word, my word is winning games. And if they want to continue doing this, please, without me!

“I will not be the coach, it’s clear, not with me, I prefer to stop and maybe bring somebody who will accept the showboating. I will not accept the showboating!” he said.