Ouaddou admits Hotto gamble nearly cost Orlando Pirates in Soweto derby

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou admitted his decision to use Deon Hotto as a right-back nearly cost his side victory against Kaizer Chiefs in Saturday’s 2-1 Soweto derby win at FNB Stadium.

Ouaddou said the unexpected selection was intended to surprise Chiefs and protect Bulelani Sigomoshe, but conceded that the tactical experiment failed during the opening half.

The Orlando Pirates coach also acknowledged that his team were fortunate to reach half-time level after Kaizer Chiefs failed to convert several chances.

“I think that coach Ouaddou put his team in trouble in the first half; I could have cost the game, but sometimes you have to be honest to say it,” Ouaddou told the media at his post-match press conference.

Hotto was deployed on the right side of defence as part of a plan to unsettle Amakhosi, but Orlando Pirates struggled to contain their opponents before the interval.

Yanele Mbuthuma restored balance for Orlando Pirates after Pule Mmodi had put Kaizer Chiefs ahead, while Tshepang Moremi scored in the second half to complete the comeback.

Ouaddou said the scoreline at the break gave his side the opportunity to correct their approach and make changes to their positioning and movement.

“But thank God we came at halftime with 1-1, and it was time to make some tactical adjustments, in which we changed some players as well,” he said.

“We put the players at their right position, and we asked for some movement from the players, especially in the middle in terms of rotation of the ball.”

The coach believes Kaizer Chiefs could have taken a decisive lead before half-time and regretted their failure to make the most of the chances they created.

“If I have to define the game, I think Chiefs had the opportunity to kill off the game in the first half, and I think they could have easily come with 3-1 at half time,” he said.

Ouaddou said the missed opportunities allowed Orlando Pirates to change the course of the match after the interval.

“They didn’t take this opportunity, and unfortunately in football when you don’t [take] the opportunity to kill off the game, you give the chance to the opponent to adjust, and we came back in the second half, and we killed them in football,” he added.

The victory completed a turnaround that had appeared unlikely during a difficult first half for Orlando Pirates. Ouaddou praised his players for responding to the tactical changes and securing a derby win.

“Well done to the boys; it is not easy to win the derby.”