Ouaddou demands more from Orlando Pirates players before Soweto Derby

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says every player must understand the responsibility of wearing the club’s badge, warning that there is no time to “nurse” anyone as the Buccaneers prepare to face Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.

Pirates reached the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over Milford FC on Tuesday evening, but Ouaddou was dissatisfied with the overall performance and believes his side should have done considerably more.

Asked after the match about managing his squad ahead of the Soweto Derby, including his decision not to use some regular starters, Ouaddou said every player given an opportunity had to take it.

“Like I said, they have all the time starters and impact players. Me, I don’t have any substitution. The guy that I bring, I give him a chance,” he said.

“He needs to apply, because maybe he will not have a second chance or the third chance. You can feel that it’s hard, but I’m sorry, this is the high level. When the duty calls you, you have to apply.”

The Moroccan-born coach also emphasised the scale of support for Pirates and the obligations that come with representing the club.

“We have millions, millions of fans, millions of lovers of Pirates. Everywhere we go in South Africa, they are waiting for us. They open their arms for us. They have a big heart for us,” he said.

“And we cannot disappoint all these people. Not only in South Africa, we cannot disappoint people that love Pirates in all Africa. This is the mentality that we need to have.”

Ouaddou felt the margin of victory against Milford did not reflect the difference he expected between the two teams.

“If we have to put eight goals against Milford, we have to show to Milford that we are not playing in the same level,” he said.

He acknowledged the work of Milford and their coach, Xanti Pupuma, describing Pupuma as humble and saying his team was well coached. However, Ouaddou was unhappy that Pirates had allowed their opponents to leave the stadium believing they could have achieved more.

“I don’t want to let people think that Pirates is only a name. We cannot say that. We can’t let people say that,” he added.

“So, it’s why I’m angry. When we wear this shirt with this badge of Pirates, you need to transform yourself in every game. I’m not here to nurse anybody. I don’t have time.”

The comments come before a significant fixture in Pirates’ campaign, with Saturday’s meeting with Chiefs offering Ouaddou’s side another chance to meet the standards demanded by their coach.

Both Soweto giants enter the derby after recording 3-0 victories in the Carling Knockout Cup. Their league meeting will bring greater pressure and expectation.