Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was furious with his players on Tuesday night, even after they beat Milford FC 3-0 in the first round of the Carling Knockout Cup.

The Bucs played at home at the Orlando Amstel Arena and made light work of the lower-league side on the scoreboard. Tshepang Moremi scored twice and Thapelo Mokobodi added the third goal. Pirates kept a clean sheet and moved into the next round of the competition without too much trouble.

But Ouaddou was not satisfied. He told the media after the match that the performance was not good enough for a club the size of Orlando Pirates. He said his players were selfish, rushed their decisions, and failed to control the game the way they should.

“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,” the coach said.

He explained that too many players chose to shoot when a teammate was in a better position to score. He also said the team did not dominate possession the way a big side should at home. Ouaddou was clear that winning is not enough if the quality of the football does not match the club’s ambitions.

“The positive point is the three goals and the clean sheet. But if we want to dream bigger – if we want to win the league and the Champions League – we cannot continue like this. A lot of players need to really wake up,” he added.

The Moroccan coach has high standards. He has already made it clear that he expects his squad to perform every week, whether the opponent is strong or weak. For him, representing Orlando Pirates means bringing the right attitude from the first minute.

Pirates now face a much bigger test this weekend when they meet Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby. Ouaddou will want to see a sharper and more focused display from his players. Supporters of the Bucs will hope his strong words help the team raise their level for the challenges still to come this season.

Source: https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2115180484565295177