Ouaddou defends public rebuke of Pirates stars – ‘People talk too much’

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has defended his decision to publicly criticise his players, stating it was a necessary “wake-up call” that led to their victory over Chippa United on Sunday.

The Buccaneers bounced back from a frustrating 1-1 midweek draw against AmaZulu, a result that prompted sharp words from their coach regarding the team’s performance and attitude.

Following a scoreless first half in their latest outing, the defending champions found their form. Goals from Ghampani Lungu, Lebone Seema and substitute Daniel Msendami secured a crucial win, propelling the Buccaneers past rivals Kaizer Chiefs to the top of the league standings.

Ouaddou hits back at critics

Ouaddou explained that his “tough love” was a calculated move to provoke a reaction from his squad, a response he believes they delivered at Kings Park Stadium.

“My boys gave me a great response today,” Ouaddou told SuperSport TV after the match as quoted by Kick Off. “When a father or a big brother is shouting in the dressing room, who knows the psychology of my players better than me?”

He addressed the external criticism of his methods, adding, “People talk too much, saying a coach cannot speak like that in the media. I was expecting an answer, and sometimes you need to be a little bit hard with your boys to get this kind of performance.”

Pirates coach on navigating Chippa

Reflecting on the game, Ouaddou acknowledged the initial challenge. “We had a difficult first half, and we knew it would be. But honestly, we weren’t panicking. At halftime, we spoke calmly and made some tactical adjustments, especially with our front line, to get between the lines. We were very calm.”

“They gave me a very good answer today,” he concluded. “Now, the question is whether we can be consistent in the future. That is my hope.”