Palacios backs Ouaddou’s decision to start teenager in CAF Champions League

Former Orlando Pirates coach Augusto Palacios has defended Abdeslam Ouaddou’s decision to select 19-year-old Christian Derbyshire for a crucial CAF Champions League tie.

Pirates were held to a goalless draw by La Cure Waves of Mauritius in the first leg of the first preliminary round in Port Louis on Sunday. Derbyshire was handed a starting place in defence, but Ouaddou’s team selection attracted criticism from those who believed the head coach should have relied on more experienced players.

Palacios, however, believes Derbyshire was ready for the challenge and that giving him responsibility in an international fixture will help his development.

“I don’t think Pirates undermined their opponents. According to my experience, if a player is 19 years old and plays in the PSL, he should be ready to play internationally,” maintains ‘Njenje’, in conversation with KickOff.

“How else is the player going to gain experience? We have this wrong perception that a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old are still young players. I don’t think the Pirates coach undermined the team from Mauritius.

“The 0-0 result, there is nothing wrong with it because they managed not to concede away. In the second leg, Pirates will definitely score.”

The former coach also warned against underestimating opponents because they come from countries where football is not fully professional.

“Sometimes people undermine a country when its football is semi-professional or amateur. In the Champions League, you can’t undermine anybody.”

Palacios recalled an occasion during his time in charge of Pirates when he took the team to Seychelles, whose domestic league was also amateur. Pirates won that match 2-0.

“I remember when I coached Pirates, there was a time I had to take the team to Seychelles. Their league was also amateur. We won 2-0.”

Despite failing to score in Mauritius, Palacios is confident Pirates will produce a different result when the tie returns to South Africa.

“I guarantee you, you will see a completely different score line in the second leg in Orlando. The coach knows what he is doing by playing the youngster; he is building his confidence,” explains Palacios.

The result leaves Pirates needing a victory in the return fixture to progress, although a score draw would also be enough because of the away-goals advantage no longer being used. However, the team must avoid conceding if it is to keep the tie under control after the first leg.

The second leg will be played at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, with Ouaddou expected to decide whether Derbyshire retains his place in the starting line-up.