Ouaddou Slams Pirates Despite 3-0 Cup Rout as Soweto Derby Looms

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has criticised aspects of his team's performance despite their convincing 3-0 victory over Milford FC, insisting that the club's biggest ambitions extend beyond domestic cup competitions.

The Buccaneers booked their place in the Carling Knockout quarter-finals with a commanding victory at Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday night. However, the result did little to satisfy Ouaddou, who expressed his disappointment with certain players and demanded higher standards from his squad.

Pirates appeared to have settled the contest before half-time, scoring three unanswered goals in an impressive attacking display. Yet, despite their dominance in the opening 45 minutes, the Soweto giants failed to add to their tally after the interval, a development that clearly frustrated their coach.

Ouaddou made his expectations clear when discussing the club's ambitions and the performance of his players.

"When I said we need to win things, I was meaning the Champions League and the Betway Premiership," the Moroccan tactician said.

His comments underline the pressure on Pirates to deliver consistently across competitions, particularly as the club continues to pursue major honours on the domestic and continental stages.

The Buccaneers made a strong start against Milford, with their attacking quality proving too much for the visitors during the opening half.

Thapelo Mokobodi opened the scoring in the 15th minute after capitalising on a well-timed through-ball. The midfielder showed composure in front of goal, slotting past Milford goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza to give Pirates an early advantage.

The goal was another encouraging moment for Mokobodi, who continued his impressive recent form by finding the back of the net for the second consecutive match.

Pirates maintained their attacking momentum, putting the Milford defence under sustained pressure as they searched for further goals.

Tshepang Moremi subsequently extended the lead after rounding Hleza and finishing confidently to register his sixth goal of the campaign.

Moremi was not finished, however, as he struck again before the interval to complete a dominant first-half display from the home side.

With a three-goal advantage at the break, Pirates appeared well-positioned to turn the encounter into an even more emphatic victory.

Having established a comfortable lead, Pirates were expected to maintain their intensity and increase the margin after the restart.

Instead, they failed to find another goal, allowing Milford to show greater resistance and compete more effectively as the match progressed.

Although the Buccaneers retained control of the contest and secured qualification for the next round, their inability to build on their first-half performance appeared to contribute to Ouaddou's dissatisfaction.

The coach had made changes to his starting line-up, bringing Deon Hotto and Ghampani Lungu back into the team following Friday's victory over African Stars.

Despite fielding a strong side, Ouaddou clearly expects more from his players, particularly those seeking to establish themselves as regular starters.

His remarks also suggest that a convincing scoreline alone will not be enough to satisfy the Pirates technical team as they pursue their major objectives this season.

For a club of Pirates' stature, consistency and the ability to maintain high standards throughout a match remain essential.

Attention now turns to Saturday's highly anticipated Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs, with both rivals heading into the encounter after securing convincing victories.

The results set the stage for an intriguing showdown between the Soweto giants, with both teams looking to carry their winning momentum into one of South African football's biggest fixtures.

For Pirates, the derby represents an opportunity to demonstrate that they can combine positive results with the consistent performances Ouaddou demands.

The coach will be particularly keen to see his players maintain their attacking sharpness while avoiding the drop in intensity that followed their impressive first-half display against Milford.

Meanwhile, Chiefs will approach the encounter with confidence after their own three-goal victory, setting up a potentially compelling battle between two sides eager to assert their authority.

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