Ouaddou backs experienced players to guide Pirates’ youngsters in CAF Champions League

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says his squad must combine youthful energy with experience after securing a place in the CAF Champions League group stages.

The Buccaneers booked their progress with a 4-0 victory over African Stars in the second leg of the second preliminary round. Ouaddou believes the demands of the competition mean Pirates cannot rely solely on their younger players, despite the freshness they offer.

“It will be important to balance the team, in the Champions League you cannot only go with the young players even they will bring you the freshness, but at the same time you need the spine of experience players to guide them, speak to them because it’s a high-level competition,” he said.

Pirates will also need to deal with the changing pace and difficult moments that can arise during continental matches. Ouaddou highlighted the role senior players will have in helping their less experienced team-mates cope with those situations.

“We will have to manage the high tempo, low tempo, sometimes you will have provocation like we saw last season against Lupopo and it’s where I need the experience players to guide the little one.”

The coach was also asked about Mpho Padime and Simphiwe Masilela showing flair during the second half of the win.

Ouaddou said he had no objection to the players entertaining the crowd, provided Pirates continued to pursue more goals and maintained their defensive discipline.

“Of course, the goals – even at 4-0 I was pushing the guys to score the fifth, sixth one. My proudness is to score four goals and we didn’t concede and the guys if we score four goals, they can enjoy.

“You see, I said nothing, Phopho can climb on the ball, Masilela can make showboating you see I don’t have any problem but you need to score four goals.”

The result ensured Pirates returned to the CAF Champions League group stages, while the clean sheet completed a convincing second-leg performance against African Stars.