Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has delivered a message that will excite Kaizer Chiefs supporters, insisting that Amakhosi should not be ruled out of the Betway Premiership title race despite their recent Soweto Derby defeat.

The Moroccan-French tactician made the comments after guiding Pirates to a 2-1 victory over their biggest rivals at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Although the Buccaneers walked away with maximum points, Ouaddou was full of praise for the work being done by his opposite number, Fernando Da Cruz, and the Chiefs technical team.

The Pirates coach believes Amakhosi have assembled a competitive squad, particularly with the number of promising young players at their disposal.

“Seeing the game from outside, this technical team of Kaizer Chiefs are doing a great job. We must let them work and implement their game model,” Ouaddou said.

“These guys at Chiefs have a very good team with very good young players. In my opinion, they're on the right path and we don't have to rule them out of the title race. This is a big club with great fans, and this technical team is doing a great job.”

His comments come despite the growing gap between the two Soweto rivals on the league standings.

Pirates moved to 25 points following their derby victory, placing them second and just one point behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played an additional match.

Chiefs, meanwhile, remained in fifth position with 13 points, leaving them 12 points behind their rivals.

However, Ouaddou believes the difference is not enough to dismiss Chiefs' chances of challenging for the championship.

The former Marumo Gallants coach also acknowledged that Chiefs showed their quality during the first half of the derby, creating opportunities that could have changed the outcome of the encounter.

Pirates eventually improved after the break, with Tshepang Moremi scoring the winning goal in the 55th minute following Thapelo Mokobodi's assist.

For Da Cruz, the immediate challenge will be turning his team's encouraging performances into consistent results.

Chiefs have also been eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup, meaning they can now concentrate fully on their domestic commitments without the demands of continental travel.

That could become an important advantage as the campaign progresses.

Meanwhile, Ouaddou's public backing of his rivals provides an interesting perspective, particularly after Pirates secured bragging rights in one of South African football's biggest fixtures.

Despite the disappointment of losing the derby, Chiefs supporters will welcome the recognition from their biggest rivals' coach that their team still has the potential to compete for the league title.

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/soccer/psl-south-africa/pirates-coach-ouaddou-says-something-chiefs-fans-will-love