Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has offered Kaizer Chiefs and their supporters a major vote of confidence — insisting his side’s great rivals are very much in the Betway Premiership title race. Ouaddou made the encouraging remarks following his team’s hard-fought 2–1 Soweto Derby victory at FNB Stadium.

The result lifted Pirates to 25 points, just one behind pacesetters Mamelodi Sundowns. Chiefs sit fifth, 12 points off the summit — but Ouaddou is convinced the gap is far from insurmountable. “What I can tell you is that, seeing the game from outside, the technical staff of Kaizer Chiefs are doing a great job,” he said. “We must let them work on implementing their game model. Kaizer Chiefs have a very good team, very good young players. In my opinion, they’re on the right path.”

The Moroccan-French tactician refused to write off Amakhosi’s chances. “We don’t have to rule them out of the title race. This is a big club with big fans, and this technical team is doing a great job.”

Chiefs may also have fresh momentum from their CAF Confederation Cup exit — they can now focus entirely on the league, with no continental travel or fixture congestion to manage. Their remaining schedule includes key showdowns, including a return meeting with Pirates on 13 March 2027 and a massive clash with Sundowns on 6 February. Ouaddou’s belief will be music to Chiefs supporters’ ears — the race, he says, is far from over.

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