Ouaddou urges Orlando Pirates’ World Cup players to find their form

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has warned the club’s players who represented Bafana Bafana at the World Cup that they must quickly rediscover their rhythm and make a greater impact in the domestic campaign.

The French-Moroccan manager issued the warning after Pirates were held to a 1-1 draw by AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership at Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Wednesday night.

Ouaddou said captain Nkosinathi Sibisi and goalkeeper Sipho Chaine were currently the only Bafana Bafana players in his squad who looked fully fit and were consistently carrying out their responsibilities.

He believes the rest of the club’s World Cup contingent still need to improve before they reach their best level, with the season already under way and little time available to wait for them to recover their form.

Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi both featured against AmaZulu. Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa are out injured, while Relebohile Mofokeng has left Orlando Pirates to pursue an opportunity overseas.

“My worry is when am I going to recover the international players fully fit? Today, I have seen a fantastic game of [Nkosinathi] Sibisi, really he played his role today, Sipho Chaine played his role,” said Ouaddou.

The coach said Pirates had effectively been operating with fewer than 11 fully effective players since the start of the season and stressed that the club could not afford to wait until later in the campaign for the internationals to return to peak condition.

“But since the beginning of the season, I am playing with one or two men down. So, when am I going to recover them? I hope as soon as possible, because there is an emergency.

“You know that every point is very important. We are going to wait for these points at the end of the season. I need quickly my international players to land, let’s say, in our planet, in our hearts.”

Pirates’ draw with AmaZulu added to Ouaddou’s concern because every dropped point could become significant by the end of the season. He wants the players to reconnect quickly with the squad’s approach, the club’s ambitions and the expectations of supporters.

“The US is finished, and they need quickly to be part of the team spirit, about the expectation of the club, the expectation of the fans because football is very difficult to wait, because if we wait until December to get fit, it will be late.

“So, I really need them to come to the party.”

Ouaddou’s comments underline his urgency to see the international players become more influential as Orlando Pirates continue their Betway Premiership campaign. He believes a delayed return to full fitness could leave the club chasing points later in the season, when the consequences of their current performances may be more difficult to overcome.