Ouaddou hails ‘fantastic’ Pirates’ squad depth – ‘I call them impact players’

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has revealed his excitement at having many players who can change the game in his squad after seeing substitute Oswin Appollis deliver victory for them.

Appollis, who came after the break, scored the lone goal as the Soweto giants beat a stubborn Siwelele FC 1-0 in Bloemfontein on Tuesday to move up to fourth place on the PSL table.

The winger was a constant threat when he came on and he received a good flicked pass from another substitute Evidence Makgopa which allowed him in behind the Siwelele defence and score.

Ouaddou says the power of the bench is coming to Pirates’ rescue this season and is happy that he has a lot of quality players to call upon when the game is tight or whenever an opponent is frustrating them.

Pirates’ impact players delight Ouaddou

“Like I told you, I’m a very happy coach,” Ouaddou told SuperSport TV after the game. “I told you that I have a fantastic dressing room, all the guys who come in the pitch they have the ambition to change the game.”

“They are fantastic, I call them impact players, it’s why I call them impact players because they are here to change the game and since few games they did and I hope they will continue like that,” he added, singing praise of his squad.

The former Marumo Gallants tactician, however, admits it was tough against Siwelele who frustrated them for 80 minutes, never giving them a chance, while they had a couple of opportunities to stun the Buccaneers.

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“You know, this team studied us well. They played a very compact block with a lot of aggressivity, they didn’t allow us to play so we didn’t have the moment to play our football. But we made some changes again and the chance come at the end of the second half with the shoot from Appollis,” he added.

“We’re going to analyse what we can improve, but the most important today was to take the three points and to be close to the log (leaders) because we know that it’s very important not to lose points today against these teams.”

Pirates moved to fourth on the log with 12 points from six games, seven behind leaders Sekhukhune United, who have played a game more, and will now turn their attention to the CAF Champions League preliminary round return leg against Lioli of Lesotho who they beat 3-0 in the first leg.