Nduli concedes Pirates ‘ruined’ themselves as Ouaddou ‘understands fans’ frustrations’

Orlando Pirates started their 2025/26 Premier Soccer League campaign with back-to-back losses against Sekhukhune United and Marumo Gallants respectively.

It wasn't an anticipated start fro a team that c=seamlessly beat Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarter-final, having added some quality players to their squad. In the last three editions, the Buccaneers – who were under coach Jose Riveiro, had finished second on the table.

Abdeslam Ouaddou was brought in to replace him, and early signs aren't promising at all.

Fans have every reason to be angry

Following the 2-1 loss against Gallants on Tuesday night, the former Morocco international has conceded the supporters have every right to be frustrated.

“When you come into such a big institution who are playing for titles and cup competitions, of course, there is a lot of expectation. You can understand the fans’ [frustration], it is normal, and we understand them. When a club loses two games in a row like that, it is normal that the fans are not happy, and we [technical team] are not happy as well to lose,” he told the media.

“I think we have so many players and we decided this line-up [against Gallants], because we have many games as well. When you make such a decision, you have to understand that we will be playing in the MTN8 against a very strong team [Mamelodi Sundowns]. 

“So, we have to make some choices like we did. If we had won, the choice might have been good, but now that we’ve lost, people will naturally say it wasn’t. But it’s football, it’s like that. We make some choices and that’s it,” Ouaddou concluded.

Nduli concedes Bucs should blame themselves

Midfielder Sihle Nduli says the players did not do enough to collect a win against Gallants.

“I think we started the game well. We were able to create many scoring chances, but we only scored one. I think we should have finished the game in the first half and made things easy for ourselves,” he said after the match.

“I think as the gents we ruined it ourselves, we gave away the three points because we created everything, then we conceded goals even small children wouldn't [concede],” he concluded.

Bucs play Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final at the Orlando Stadium, knowing they need a win to ease the pressure from the fans.