Orlando Pirates News Today: ‘My job is NOT excuses, transfer updates & more

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Orlando Pirates News Today: ‘My job is NOT excuses, transfer updates & more

The latest Orlando Pirates news in the last 24 hours, including Simphiwe Selepe opening up about his first start of the season, Abdeslam Ouaddou on his philosophy, why there is no room for excuses, and more.

Selepe opens up about first start this season

Orlando Pirates talent Simphiwe Selepe has opened up on his first start for the club this campaign in their thumping win over Sekhukhune United.

The Buccaneers powered into their fifth successive MTN8 final following a 3-0 thrashing of Babina Noko at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday. They take on Mamelodi Sundowns in a repeat of the 2023 Wafa Wafa final.

Selepe was grateful for the opportunity of starting the match, which he says he worked hard for despite the competition in his position.

“I think my starting for [Saturday is due] to the technical coaches putting belief in all of us as players,” he told the Pirates media.

“Since the season started, I have been pushing myself till now, so it was important for me to grab the opportunity that I was granted.

Simphiwe Selepe

“It was really important for me to grab that opportunity, because as you know, there are quite a few of us in that position. So, when I get an opportunity, I have to grab and hold on to it. It’s never an easy game playing against Sekhukhune. We beat them twice, and they also said we cannot allow them to beat us for the third time.

“It was not an easy game; it was a bit scrappy in the first half, but at least we managed to score; we’re off to the next round.”

My job is not to look for excuses

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has explained how his side’s training and attacking patterns have changed following the departures of Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi.

Mofokeng and Maswanganyi were among the key attacking profiles at Pirates last season, but both have since moved on, leaving Ouaddou with the task of rebuilding his attacking structure around a different group of players.

“We had very good profiles with Mofokeng, with Tito, and for a coach it’s not easy to lose these kinds of profiles, but it’s life; it’s the life of football. As I said, I wish them all the best, but now the life of the club must move on,” Ouaddou told the media.

“We have to use the profiles to find a suitable system – we wanted to play fast with intensity, with these new profiles, but the most important for me is how we can limit touches in crowded areas where there is lots of pressure.

Abdeslam Ouaddou
Abdeslam Ouaddou, Image: Orlando Pirates

“We need to train them to take and make decisions before receiving the ball; for me, that’s the challenge: to reduce touches in the crowded areas, and I think they did it very well [on Saturday].”

Ouaddou explains his Bucs’ philosophy

Abdeslam Ouaddou has explained his football philosophy, insisting he does not want his players to be restricted to just one style of play.

The Pirates coach says modern players must be able to recognise different phases of the game and adapt according to what the opposition gives them. A fascinating insight into Ouaddou’s game model.

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Willis Sob

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Willis Sob is a sports betting expert and journalist covering Nigeria and South Africa, with 16 years of experience. With a background in journalism, reporting and programme production, he specialises in football odds, and his work has appeared on OK Africa and GOAL, as well as TV, radio and podcasts.

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