Interview

Ouaddou targets trophy overhaul

Photo: Orlando Pirates @ Facebook

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says the Buccaneers’ target is to win each and every trophy on offer this season.

The Soweto giants have already clinched three domestic cup titles in the ongoing campaign – this after beating the Carling All-Stars team to the Carling Cup silverware this past Saturday.

Pressed on whether a clean sweep of trophies is the mandate, the Bucs mentor made a bullish statement of intent that Pirates are eager to dominate the South African football landscape.

“When you come to work in such a big club like Orlando Pirates, the ambition is to win every games, I cannot be more clear than that. Every games that we start we must win them, every competition that we start – the target is to win that competition,” asserted Ouaddou.

“So, I think all that is going to be on the table, meaning the League, the Nedbank Cup, all the competitions, we are playing to win them. We don’t have to hide [our ambitions], why hide? You need to show your card and to be able to go and challenge [for] these competitions.

Though Ouaddou is hell-bent on lifting every trophy in his first season in charge of the Sea Robbers, he cautioned his charges to stay grounded and keep working hard to maintain the success.

“But it will not be easy, we have to be humble, to work. It’s what I always say to my players, as long you stop working, as long you start to be lazy, as long you start not to respect your body and football – football will not respect you,” he added.

“So, our target is to go and have a nice rest because they have worked very well, I’m very proud of what they did and to come back with a lot of ambition because if we start to sleep, I think there are fantastic teams in the PSL that can pass in front of you.

Remarkably, since the 2022/23 campaign, Pirates have won a total of eight domestic cup titles under both Jose Riveiro and now the French-Moroccan tactician.