Orlando Pirates must manage pressure to fulfil potential, says Abdeslam Ouaddou

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes the mental demands of playing for the club are the biggest obstacle his young squad must overcome if they are to reach their potential this season.

Pirates are statistically the second-youngest side in the Betway Premiership, with only AmaZulu having a younger squad. Ouaddou has also been tasked with integrating 10 new players following the latest transfer window.

The new arrivals have strengthened the squad, but the Moroccan coach says adapting to the expectations surrounding one of South Africa’s biggest clubs can affect players’ performances and decision-making.

“I have one of the youngest teams in the PSL and you see we have 10 new players, it’s not easy to integrate at such a big club like Pirates,” Ouaddou said.

“You can be a good player at other clubs, but when you come here, the factor you have to manage is emotions. There is a lot of pressure, so I think I have good players. Of course, there is all the time a margin of progression, but where my staff and I really need to help them is mentally.

“How can I manage the pressure, these kind of games?”

Ouaddou said the contrast between his team’s first-half display and its performance after the interval showed how pressure can influence the players, rather than exposing a lack of technical quality.

The coach believes hesitation and rushed decisions early in matches can stem from the responsibility players feel when representing Pirates.

“If you see the first half, it’s the same players that you have seen in the second half, but in the first half, a lot of precipitation, the weight of passing the ball, wrong choices, not because they are bad players, because they have pressure,” he explained.

The former Marseille defender, who has also coached in France, compared the demands of playing for a major club with those faced at a smaller side.

“If you play Pirates or Marseille, it’s not the same as playing for Lorient or Guingamp, it’s not the same,” he added.

Ouaddou said helping his footballers handle that pressure was an area where he and his coaching staff needed to make progress. However, he admitted the club might eventually require specialist support.

“So, it’s the area that I hope I can help them as a coach, but maybe we will need even a professional, even a psychologist to go a little deeper. I’m not a psychologist…”

Pirates secured their place in the CAF Champions League group stages and will now switch focus to the Carling Knockout.

They host Kruger United at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday evening, with Ouaddou’s side looking to continue developing a team that has undergone significant change during the season.