Ouaddou demands greater finishing from Orlando Pirates before Champions League

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says his side must become more clinical before entering the CAF Champions League group phase, despite progressing in the Carling Knockout.

The defending 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 of victory should have been far greater, saying the game was one Orlando Pirates could have won 5-0.

“We could have scored three or four goals in the second half if we are honest, but we didn’t manage,” Ouaddou said.

“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.”

The result secured Orlando Pirates’ place in the semi-finals, but Ouaddou said their wastefulness in front of goal remained a concern.

“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 then joked about his own playing career, saying his value as a defender was lower because he did not score goals.

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

The Orlando Pirates coach wants his attacking players to improve their finishing with the CAF Champions League group stages approaching.

“I am looking for the Champions League, so I am saying we should be more efficient because we create these big chances,” Ouaddou said.

“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.”