Ouaddou Sends Strong Warning to Pirates Players Despite Convincing Cup Victory

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has sent a strong warning to his players after expressing his disappointment with their performance despite securing a comfortable 3-0 victory over Milford FC in the Carling Knockout Cup on Tuesday night.

The Buccaneers booked their place in the quarter-finals with an impressive scoreline at home, but their Moroccan coach made it clear that winning alone would not be enough to satisfy him. Ouaddou expects greater commitment, concentration and teamwork from a squad representing one of South African football's biggest clubs.

"When we are playing for such big club, Pirates, we need to wake up. We need to wake up. I'm not here to nurse people," Ouaddou said after the match.

His comments highlighted the high standards he wants to establish at the Soweto giants as they continue their campaign across domestic competitions.

Orlando Pirates entered the encounter as defending champions and were expected to overcome Milford FC, but Ouaddou's reaction showed that he was more concerned about the overall performance than the result itself.

The victory ensured that the Buccaneers avoided an early exit from the competition and kept their hopes of retaining the Carling Knockout trophy alive. However, the coach's assessment suggested that certain aspects of their display fell below his expectations.

The coach was particularly unhappy with what he described as selfish decision-making in the final third. According to Ouaddou, several players opted to shoot when passing to teammates in better positions would have created clearer scoring opportunities.

He also questioned the team's control of the match, suggesting that Pirates should have dominated possession more convincingly against their opponents.

"I think the only positive point is the win," he explained, adding that the team made too many rushed decisions and failed to demonstrate the level of control he expected.

Despite his frustration, the result was never in serious doubt after Pirates established a commanding first-half lead. Thapelo Mokobodi opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Tshepang Moremi netted twice, finding the back of the net in the 34th minute and again in first-half stoppage time.

The victory secured Pirates' place in the quarter-finals and provided a positive result ahead of their next major challenge, the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs.

However, Ouaddou made it clear that his ambitions extend beyond progressing through cup competitions. The coach wants his team to compete for the Betway Premiership title and make a strong impression in the CAF Champions League.

He warned that Pirates would struggle to achieve those objectives if the players continued making poor decisions and failing to meet the club's expectations.

For the Buccaneers, the message is straightforward: individual brilliance must serve the team's interests, while every player must demonstrate the discipline and commitment required at a club of Pirates' stature.

With the Soweto Derby approaching, Ouaddou will hope his public criticism produces the desired response on the pitch. The victory over Milford FC delivered the result he wanted, but his reaction suggests that the defending champions still have significant room for improvement.

Source https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2115180484565295177?a=Dq9gw_Qpvdkq3homkew&s=19