Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has started his life at the club with a loss and a draw in the pre-season.
The Buccaneers started life without Jose Riveiro with a 2-0 loss against the English League One outfit Bolton Wanderers before playing to a 1-1 draw with Cypriot side Pafos FC. Despite that, Marumo Gallants striker Junior Zindoga insists the 46-year-old has what it takes to deliver.
The forward argues Ouaddou is more than a coach who helps the players to give their best on the pitch.
‘Ouaddou doesn't take away what you already have'
“Coach Ouaddou is someone who’s incredibly hard-working and tactically sound. More than just a coach, he feels like a big brother. He encourages you, makes you feel good about yourself, and creates a happy environment on the pitch,” he told Soccer Laduma.
“He doesn’t take away what you already have – he builds on it. He helps you improve in areas you might overlook, and that made a real difference in my game. Even though I didn’t have a lot of time working under him, he was already making a big impact.
“After a game, while we’d be on the bus back from a place like Mpumalanga, he’d already be watching the match again, analysing things and talking to his assistants. That dedication really showed us how serious he is,” Zindoga added.
‘Pirates have a great coach'
“He’s the kind of coach who, during a long bus ride, would already be thinking about how we could defend higher or where we could improve – always looking to make the team better. He’s top-class,” he continued.
“I’m still in contact with him, and I know he’ll continue to help me improve no matter where he is. Even when I was injured, he came to visit me just to make sure I was okay – that tells you the kind of person he is.
“I wish him all the best at Orlando Pirates. I know he’s going to do really well there. They’ve got a great coach and a great person,” Zindoga concluded.
