Orlando Pirates News Today: ‘I’m not Riveiro,’ Ouddou tells critics, Appollis’ bench role & more

Latest Orlando Pirates news, including Abdeslam Ouaddou hitting out at those criticising his touchline antics and the ones questioning Oswin Appollis’ reduced game time.

Latest Orlando Pirates News

Pirates coach to critics: ‘I’m different from Riveiro’

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has insisted that he will not be boxed into a corner about how she should act on the touchline.

Ouaddou is normally an animated figure on the touchline and this was the case again in the Carling Knockout quarter-final against Sekhukhune United on Saturday.

Pirates won 1-0 thanks to youngster Mpho Padime’s goal but Ouaddou was not happy and made it known by his touchline antics for most of the match.

That style has been criticised in some quarters but the Pirates coach insists he will not be told by anyone how to behave.

“Look, we cannot improve the style, football is in my blood, I played this game for 17 years, everybody has his profile, some people are more calm, me I’m living the game, I’m living the action, of course I want everything to be perfect,” Ouaddou told SuperSport TV.

“Ancelotti is different from Simeone, and Ouaddou is different from Riveiro so ja it’s my style, I’m living this, I’m a patient man. I have to stop this because my clothes will become dirty so I will have to stop.”

Ouaddou invokes Hakimi in Appollis’ bench role

Meanwhile, Ouaddou has defended his decision to keep Oswin Appollis on the bench for the match and hand youngsters Padime, Sifiso Luthuli and Neo Rapoo opportunities against Sekhukhune United.

The Pirates coach had defended his move to reduce Appolli’s game time this season, saying it is down to his increased workload in the previous campaign and therefore he risks injuries.

He reiterated that stance on Saturday, saying even Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique is doing the same with Achraf Hakimi.

“Look, it was an opportunity for us to give opportunity for Padime, Luthuli to see in your faces as well, people have to understand that we are managing a group of 40 players, so to keep the motivation you need to introduce some players Rapoo, we didn’t see him, we give him the opportunity, Mmolai you understand,” he said on SuperSport TV as per Soccer Laduma.

“I have already explained the situation of Appollis, you see in Paris Saint-Germain now, Luis Enrique said he is going to play Hakimi in January, why? Because they’ve seen with the numbers that this guys, he risks injuries and they don’t want to lose him.

“It’s the same for us, there’s nothing around Appollis, people must stop to create any politics, Appollis is one of our best players and we want to protect him for the most important games.”