Ouaddou demands greater finishing from Orlando Pirates before CAF Champions League

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says his side must become more clinical before entering the CAF Champions League group phase, despite their continued run of victories.

The defending Carling Knockout champions defeated Sekhukhune United 1-0 in the quarter-finals at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, with Mpho Padime scoring the only goal of the match.

Ouaddou believes the margin should have been far greater, saying Pirates created enough opportunities to win 5-0 and must improve their finishing ahead of the continental competition.

“We could have scored three or four goals in the second half if we are honest, but we didn’t manage. Overall, well done to the boys… I think the most important thing is to go through to the next stage. Well done for scoring the goal and keeping another clean sheet,” Ouaddou said.

The result secured Pirates’ place in the Carling Knockout semi-finals, but their coach warned that failing to convert chances could become a problem when they begin their CAF Champions League group-stage campaign.

“But again, hey, I have a lot of work to do, huh? You know why strikers are the most expensive players in the world, it’s because of efficiency,” he added.

Ouaddou used his own playing career as a defender to make the point, joking that his lack of goals explained why he was “cheap” during his heyday.

“I was very cheap as a defender because I wasn’t scoring goals,” he said.

The Orlando Pirates coach said the team’s ability to create chances was encouraging, but insisted the attacking players must be more ruthless in front of goal.

“I am looking for the Champions League, so I am saying we should be more efficient because we create these big chances. I don’t want to be hard on the boys, but it [finishing] is definitely an area we need to continue working on, hoping we are going to score more goals. Today was a 5-0 game.”