Orlando Pirates' decision to appoint Abdeslam Ouaddou as their new head coach, succeeding the highly successful Jose Riveiro, has sparked considerable debate in local football circles.
Club legend Edward Motale has weighed in on the unexpected choice. Ouaddou was largely unknown before his short tenure at Marumo Gallants, which started just three months before the end of last season, leading to widespread surprise.
The Buccaneers were widely expected to bring in a high-profile coach, given that Riveiro had set a very high standard, delivering five trophies in three seasons and consistently finishing second in the Betway Premiership.
Ouaddou's coaching pedigree appears modest on paper; his head coaching career began only five years ago with a four-month stint at Mouloudia Oujda, a Moroccan second-division side.
With a mere 12 PSL games of experience, doubts naturally arise about his suitability for such a demanding role at a club like Pirates.
Despite these concerns, Motale offers a crucial counterpoint. He suggests that Ouaddou's distinguished playing career offers hope, citing his time at top clubs such as Fulham, Rennes, and Olympiakos, along with his remarkable 80 caps for the Morocco national team, as encouraging signs.
EDWARD MOTALE CONTENT WITH OUADDOU’S APPOINTMENT
“Me I have a belief in him (Ouaddou), he coached 12 games at Marumo, personally I don't think he did bad, it's just that he got there late in the season, you get me,” Motale told KickOff.com.
“The other thing that gave me the belief, I saw his background, he did play this game, club and national level.
“So he knows what it takes, that's why I don't doubt him. I've got a belief in him, from the few games he coached at Marumo, where there are not even big names you see. But those few games he made a big difference.”
