Ouaddou plans collective answer as Orlando Pirates adjust to Mofokeng exit

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says the club will lean on a collective approach and new signing Sebastian Pedersen as they look to cope with the departure of Relebohile Mofokeng ahead of their league opener against Milford.

Mofokeng, 21, was central to Pirates’ success last season, driving them to three trophies, including their first league title in 14 years, before earning a move to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

The forward’s impact was underlined at the PSL’s virtual end-of-season awards on Monday, where he was named Footballer of the Season after scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists in all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign.

Speaking to journalists at Rand Stadium on Tuesday, Ouaddou accepted the scale of the loss but stressed the need to move on with a different attacking balance.

“Rele was an important player for the club. If you can just see data, his involvement in chance creation was huge, but I believe it’s important to find a profile that can take the baton,” he said.

“As you know, we are not all the time speaking about individualism; for us it’s important to speak about a collective.”

Pre-season focus on new attacking combinations

Pirates spent their pre-season camp in Spain fine-tuning new patterns in midfield and attack, with Ouaddou using that period to test multiple options to fill the creative void left by Mofokeng’s exit.

“So, it’s what we tried to work on in Spain. We worked on many combinations, a lot of different profiles in the middle, trying to see. I think we can have a good answer this weekend,” he said, referring to Saturday’s home match against top-flight newcomers Milford at Orlando Amstel Arena.

Ouaddou suggested that the solution is unlikely to come from a like-for-like replacement and instead will emerge from a more varied attacking structure built around several players.

Milford challenge and Pedersen arrival

Pirates’ first test of the new campaign comes against a Milford side making their debut in the division, and Ouaddou expects the visitors to arrive in Soweto highly driven.

“A recently promoted team always has this passion, this motivation to be in the big league. I guess they have a very good team spirit if they managed to reach this level,” he said.

Pirates have also moved in the transfer market, bringing in Norwegian striker Sebastian Pedersen from Sogndal, the 27-year-old arriving from the second tier in his homeland.

Ouaddou believes Pedersen’s profile was carefully targeted to address a specific shortcoming revealed last term.

“The scouting department of the club is looking for a profile that can help us increase the average rate of our chance-creation,” he explained.

“As you saw last season, we needed that finisher, that profile that can finish the action, and I think the scouting department have seen him. I think he’s someone who can bring freshness and quality to the team.”

Weekend league fixtures

Saturday’s programme sees Pirates host Milford at Orlando (15:30), while Stellenbosch face AmaZulu at Danie Craven (15:30), Arrows meet Chippa at King Zwelithini (15:30), Sundowns take on Gallants at Loftus Versfeld (18:00), Sekhukhune play Durban at Peter Mokaba (18:00), and Kruger entertain Chiefs at Mbombela (20:15).

On Sunday, Bay are at home to Polokwane at Richards Bay (15:30), before Siwelele meet Galaxy at Dr Molemela (18:00).