Orlando Pirates News: Ouaddou’s secret to instant success

Latest Orlando Pirates news, including coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s secret to quick success at the club and why Sekhukhune United worries him.

Latest Orlando Pirates News

Ouaddou on secret to instant Pirates success

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has shared what has helped him quickly find success at the club.

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou holding the Betway Premiership trophy. Photo: Orlando Pirates

Ouaddou won three trophies in his first season at Pirates, the MTN and Carling Knockout before ending the Buccaneers’ 14-year league title drought in May.

He has started the 2026-27 season in fine fashion and he reveals that his work was made much easier by the fact that he found an experienced and hungry team who were yearning for success.

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and his players.

“I found a mentality of winners, I found a mentality of a club that wants to win everything, so it’s what I found,” Ouaddou said as per KickOff.

“I tried to stay in that standard with the players. Of course, it’s an important cup for us, you can see the way we play, the competition, the commitment of the players when we’re playing these games.

“It’s not a competition we underestimate. I found hunger in the club and we’re still…what can I tell you, we’re still starving,” he added.

Why Ouaddou is wary of Sekhukhune

Meanwhile, Ouaddou has explained why he is wary of Sekhukhune United in their upcoming Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final.

Yanela Mbuthuma of Orlando Pirates controls the ball against Sekhukhune United. — Yanela Mbuthuma controls the ball against Sekhukhune United. Photo: Orlando Pirates

Pirates face Babina Noko at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday and Ouaddou had admitted that it will be challenging for his team given their opponents are under new coach Papi Zothwane who has now been confirmed as head coach.

“I started to plan for the game straight-away after the derby, I already spoke to the players, it will be one of the most difficult games. Why? Because I said to my boys, ‘We need to be careful about a team that has been hurt’ and against a coach who is in charge now,” said Ouaddou.

“Maybe before, I don’t know if he (Zothwane) had the full control to put all his ideas on the table but now he is in charge. I remember against Richards Bay last season, we had a lot of problems, so it will be a difficult game, we need to be at the highest of our form to win that game, because we’re defending our title, it’s a very tough opponent.”