Ouaddou says Orlando Pirates may need sports psychologist for CAF Champions League challenge

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes mental strength will be crucial if the club are to challenge for the CAF Champions League title.

Pirates secured their return to the competition’s group stages with a 4-0 aggregate victory over African Stars, completing the job with a 3-0 win against the Namibian side at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday.

However, Ouaddou was concerned by the difference between his team’s first-half and second-half displays and said the performance showed that his squad still had work to do in dealing with pressure.

The coach highlighted the number of new players at Pirates, as well as the expectations attached to representing one of South Africa’s biggest clubs. He said those factors could affect the team, particularly in major continental matches.

“In the PSL, I have one of the youngest teams. Today you saw about ten new players, and it’s not easy to integrate them into a big club like Orlando Pirates,” Ouaddou said.

“You can be a good player elsewhere, but when you come here, we have to manage the big factor of emotions because there’s a lot of pressure.”

Ouaddou believes the squad’s technical ability will not be sufficient on its own against Africa’s established heavyweights. He wants his players to improve their understanding of how to manage expectations and the intensity of important matches.

“I have good players, of course there’s always a march towards progression, but where we really have to help them is mentally,” he said.

“It’s helping them understand how they can manage the pressure and these types of games. If you look at the differences between the first and second half, it’s the same players but different performances.”

The comments indicate that Ouaddou regards the issue as part of the squad’s development rather than evidence of a lack of quality. With a young group and several newcomers still adapting to the club, he wants greater consistency when the pressure increases.

He also joked that Pirates could require specialist assistance to help the players develop that aspect of their game.

“I hope I can help them as a coach, but maybe we may need a sports psychologist to go a little bit deeper because I’m not a psychologist,” he chuckled.

Qualification for the group stage will now give Pirates the chance to test themselves against stronger opposition from across the continent. Those matches will also show whether the lessons Ouaddou has identified can be converted into performances against Africa’s leading clubs.

Pirates are aiming to add a second CAF Champions League title to the trophy they won in 1995. Ouaddou believes managing the pressure will be as important to that ambition as the quality of the team’s football.