Ouaddou faces early squad challenges as Orlando Pirates begin title defence

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says managing his World Cup players and integrating a group of new signings will be among his biggest challenges as the Buccaneers begin their defence of the Betway Premiership title.

Pirates opened their 2026-27 campaign with a 2-0 win over Milford FC on Saturday, but Ouaddou acknowledged that his side looked short of sharpness and will need to improve their control and possession as the season develops.

The Moroccan coach enjoyed a remarkable first campaign in charge last season, guiding Orlando Pirates to their first league title in 14 years and their first treble since 2011-12. That season, the Buccaneers secured a second successive treble, creating a significant standard for Ouaddou to match.

One of the central issues facing the 47-year-old is the condition of the players who represented Bafana Bafana at the 2026 Fifa World Cup in North America in June.

Relebohile Mofokeng, one of South Africa’s emerging stars, left for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium after impressing at the tournament. Meanwhile, Ouaddou said the rest of Pirates’ World Cup contingent were given only a week away from football before returning to pre-season training.

“It’s normal. We knew the players could have these difficulties to start, because they have just finished the World Cup and they had maybe one week of rest,” Ouaddou said after the game.

“And I can say is it’s not even physically [an issue] but mentally, to have the opportunity to have a break for at least three weeks. It’s necessary for a professional footballer.

“But unfortunately we couldn’t afford that … So we have to manage that and accept it.

“But if [there are matches where] we manage to score early, we can manage them by making substitutions. And we don’t have a choice it will be like that until December. And we hope it won’t cost us too much in terms of what we want to produce in our ambitions.

“A lot of clubs and coaches have the same situation. We will have to deal with that, with the performance and medical departments.”

Ouaddou is also taking a cautious approach to introducing the club’s new arrivals. Norwegian striker Sebastian Pedersen, who was prolific for his last two clubs in Norway’s second tier, is among the players supporters are waiting to see.

The other additions include midfielder Thapelo Mokobodi from Stellenbosch FC, winger Kabelo Kgositsile from Baroka FC, and Neo Rapoo, a former junior international who can play at left-back or on the left wing. Experienced Zambia right-winger Ghampani Lungu has also joined from Siwelele FC.

Against Milford, Ouaddou selected players from last season’s squad in his starting XI before bringing Lungu, Kgositsile and Rapoo on as second-half substitutes.

The manager said he had learned from last season, when he introduced several new players too quickly during the first half of the campaign and saw performances dip for a spell.

“Even I take lessons it’s never too late to learn. Last season we can say that I wanted to be in a bit of a rush to put new players in the starting XI. And this season I decided to have more stability in the starting XI and all the new players, trying to bring them on later.

“I think you saw in the second half that they [new players introduced off the bench] brought something … They brought us some more energy, some more control in the game. I think it’s good news for Orlando Pirates, to know these players can help us. But I am sure that in the season we will see them more and more.”

The expanded squad is intended to give Pirates greater depth as they try to improve on last season’s run in the CAF Champions League, when they were eliminated in the second preliminary round.

Ouaddou welcomed having enough players to compete across several competitions, although he suggested the squad of about 40 may eventually need to be reduced.

“To have depth is very important when you qualify for all the competitions and go far in them, because for a coach it’s much easier to involve all the players in your squad when you are competing in every competition. Things start to be difficult when you only play in one or two competitions [then] it’s very difficult to give game time to everyone and keep them all content.

“Professional football players come for training, but at the end of the week of training they need their gift, which is the game. And the more chances you have to give the players chances, the less problems you have in terms of management. So for me it’s a target this season to qualify for all the competitions and go far in them.”

Asked how many players he would ideally manage, Ouaddou said a squad of 30 outfield players plus four goalkeepers would be suitable if Pirates qualified for every competition.

“If we play in all the competitions, 30 players is OK for me. You add the goalkeepers four of them and then it’s 34. We can have some suspensions and a few injuries.

“If we play in all of these competitions I can manage all these players. More than that, 35, it starts to be difficult because you cannot really be efficient in your work. One point that is important is that when you have 30 players to manage you need the staff to manage them, but you need the facilities too. And when I say facilities, I mean two pitches.”