Is Orlando Pirates’ Ouaddou trying to save face after recent title race blow?

Richards Bay put up a brave fight on Friday night to claim a point against Orlando Pirates in the Premier Soccer League fixture staged at uMhlathuze Stadium.

This was a massive game for both teams; the Sea Robbers needed victory to go top of the group with 57 points, while three points could have put the Natal Rich Boys into the top half of the table in their bid to play in MTN8 next season.

Thulani Gumede’s screamer gave the hosts a lead before Oswin Appollis brought the teams into level terms. However, a grass-cutter by Lindokuhle Zikhali gave Richards Bay a lead once more before a rocket from Lebone Seema settled the matter in a fully-packed venue.

Bucs now find themselves a point behind the defending champions, but coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has put up a brave face, insisting his players will give their best to the end.

Is Ouadou saving face after Orlando Pirates slipped

“We knew that it would be difficult here, we know every time we come here the team that we play against Richards Bay is all the time very strong, we knew that it would be difficult when you concede one goal and after you come back, they equalise you,” the former Fulham defender stated..

“It’s the first time I think we concede a second goal like that and after we come back the guys did everything to come back to win that game, I think there’s a little bit of disappointment because I think’s two points that we lost in this race.

“But you know the guys fight until the end, let’s work until the end like I said. Lots of people will think that it’s over but we don’t like that, we have to play our game until the end. But today I think our strength was not to concede goal to have a lot of clean-sheet.

“But [on Friday] unfortunately this area was a little bit weak and when you come here and concede two goals it’s very difficult to score three goals here but let’s congratulate the boys with the character because they came back and scored two goals – that’s positive point but I think we lost two points tonight,” Ouaddou concluded..