Ouaddou says Orlando Pirates ‘are here for a mandate’ amid showboating criticism

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has defended his approach to showboating after facing criticism from supporters, former coaches and club legends who believe flair is an important part of South African football.

The Moroccan recently said he did not want his players to place entertainment ahead of effectiveness. That position has caused concern among some Pirates fans, with others arguing that individual skills and creativity are central to the country’s football culture.

Ouaddou said he respected that culture and South Africa, but insisted his responsibility at Orlando Pirates was to deliver results. He highlighted the club’s unbeaten start to the season, which has produced six wins and one draw from seven matches, with 16 goals scored and only one conceded.

“I heard some ex-coaches from Pirates, some legends saying that coach Ouaddou cannot come here to teach us football,” Ouaddou told the media.

“I don’t teach football to nobody. I’m very humble. I respect the culture. I respect this fantastic country. I like it. I love it. I love South Africa. I love these people.

“But these people who were ex-coaches, they have to understand that I am here for a mandate. I am here to get results. I am here to take the best from my team and to win games.

“There is a difference between skills to play forward, to score goals, to be efficient and entertainment. And entertainment is not for me,” the coach explained.

Ouaddou urged former Pirates coaches and legends to support the current team rather than criticise him publicly.

“So I think they have to be careful because we have to work together. These ex-legends, they have to work with us. They have to help the coach. They have to help the team and not speak on the side like that because it doesn’t help the team.

“I’m training a professional football team. I’m training a huge club in Africa. I’m training a very big institution in the continent. So we want to keep our range in Africa, scoring goals, to be consistent, and I think the message is clear.

“The coach is not here to teach or to give lessons to anybody. The coach is here to embrace football in South Africa, to help some players to improve. This is my job.”

The coach added that his intention was not to create a dispute, stressing that he was honoured to lead one of Africa’s biggest clubs.

“So the message has to be clear. I’m not here to fight people. I am really happy to be in Pirates. I am honoured to be the coach of one of the biggest clubs in Africa.

“When we want to work together as an institution, they have to come and help the coach. Because these people who speak, when we lose one or two games, they are the first ones that come in the media to say the coach must be fired.

“So it’s not good. They have to help us and I’m here just to save. I’m here to save the football in South Africa. I’m here to win titles. I don’t think I’m speaking bad about South African football. I respect the culture. I respect the country.”