Ouaddou explains how he will quench Pirates’ fans thirst in CAF CL: ‘A lot of huge expectations’

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is determined to help his young squad to defy the odds in the CAF Champions League and make the latter stages.

The defending Premier Soccer League champions beat African Stars 5-0 on aggregate in the second preliminary round to advance. They will be Mzansi’s only team remaining in the competition after Mamelodi Sundowns’ shock elimination by minnows Wiliete SC.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, Kaizer Chiefs were undone by Zambian side Red Arrows, leaving debutants Durban City as the country’s sole representatives.

Ouaddou is keen on helping the Buccaneers get into the last eight of the annual competition.

It is a big opportunity for Pirates

“For us, it’s very important to get through these stages. A lot of huge expectations from our fans. We know that last season we failed to go through the stages with the penalties [against FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo] here,” Ouaddou explained. 

“For me, it’s a big opportunity to bring this young team to the stage and to walk with them and give them confidence, improve them, and give them experience to taste this kind of competition. We are going to play in some countries where there are a lot of expectations and a lot of pressure. So, for us it will be important to manage these kinds of games.

“For me, [striking department] is where I want efficiency. Now I have [Boitumelo Radiopane], [Yanela] Mbuthuma, [Sebastian] Pedersen, [Sifiso] Luthuli. 

“Everybody is scoring, so it’s very good news for us because getting to the group stage will allow me to rotate and give opportunities to all the players. I have one more player in Evidence,” the former defender concluded.