Abdeslam Ouaddou reveals how Thierry Henry shaped his Orlando Pirates mentality.

Image: Itumeleng English / ANA Studio

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has revealed how he took a leaf out of Thierry Henry’s book following his emotional rollercoaster at the Soweto Derby on Saturday.

Ouaddou experienced the full range of emotions during the Soweto Derby. Whether expressing his frustration by kicking objects or loosening his tie, or lying prone on the touchline, the Moroccan was fully invested in the contest. In the end, however, it all made sense as he celebrated jubilantly at the final whistle, pumping his clenched fist and pointing to the heavens.

His emotions were justified. Pirates won the clash against Kaizer Chiefs, ensuring they remained unbeaten in the Betway Premiership after the first nine matches. The victory not only earned them three vital points to keep their title defence on track but also secured the bragging rights in the country’s biggest football rivalry.

Winning the derby – his second in three matches, following a draw – was particularly special for Ouaddou. Not only did he get the better of his French counterpart and Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz, but he also secured the victory in front of his friend, Henry.

The Frenchman was present at the derby in his capacity as Betway’s global ambassador. He also shared a special moment with Ouaddou before the match, with the Pirates coach revealing how reading Henry’s book helped shape his coaching philosophy.

"It's not easy to do this job,” Ouaddou said. “When you have played the game for 17 years, and decide to coach a big club such as Pirates, you want the best for your club. I am pushed by excellence.

“It’s funny because I had my friend here Thierry Henry, I was reading his book and he was talking about his father when he was young. When he was playing for the youth team in Paris, he was scoring five goals, and was expecting his father to congratulate, but his father wasn’t happy – he felt that he should have scored more goals.”

Although Ouaddou displayed his emotions on the touchline and occasionally shouted at players who were not meeting his expectations, he explained that he believes in pushing his players to develop a strong mentality.

“I like to push my players every time to be excellent,” Ouaddou said. “As a big brother, and coach, I want the best for my players. Sometimes in some players, it depends on the profile of the players, but my emotion can push them to be the best. For some, who don’t have a strong mentality, they can be challenged."