Pirates boss Ouaddou says player scouting is not part of his contract

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says identifying new players is not part of his responsibilities, despite having a wide network of contacts across Africa.

The 48-year-old Moroccan explained that recruitment is handled by a dedicated scouting department at the club, rather than by the coaching staff. His comments came as Pirates prepare to travel across the continent for their CAF Champions League group-stage fixtures.

The Sea Robbers have been placed in Group C with RS Berkane, Simba SC and Colombe Sportive. Those matches could give the club opportunities to assess potential targets, particularly forwards, while travelling for their continental commitments.

Ouaddou was asked about the possibility of using those trips to look for attacking reinforcements after Pirates’ narrow 1-0 victory over Sekhukhune United at the Orlando Amstel Arena last weekend.

He said the club’s scouts already understood the type of player required and the footballing identity Pirates wanted to maintain.

“Look, I think the club has a very good scouting department. They know exactly what they are looking for and the identity of the club, the way they want to play,” Ouaddou said, speaking to the media.

The coach stressed that his role was to work with the squad already available to him, rather than personally search for additions.

“It’s not a secret for anybody. I’m here to coach and I’m not here to scout the players.

“I have the players in my position that I have and I play with the players that I have.

“Unfortunately, it’s not part of my duty, let’s say it like that. It’s not part of my contract to look for the players.

“It’s another department and the club has its department to look for the players,” he explained.

Ouaddou nevertheless acknowledged that he has extensive contacts within African football, even though those connections do not form part of his official recruitment duties at Pirates.

“But of course, if you tell me about this, I have a big, big, big network in Africa, of course, but I don’t bring them here,” he added.

His comments offer a clearer indication of how responsibilities are divided at Orlando Pirates: the coaching staff focus on preparing and selecting the current squad, while the club’s scouting department leads the search for potential signings.

The Champions League group-stage campaign will now provide Pirates with fixtures against RS Berkane, Simba SC and Colombe Sportive, as the club begins its continental assignments.