Ouaddou reveals main reason behind Pirates’ biggest win over Chiefs in 25 years

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has credited his players’ fighting spirit and passion as the decisive factors in their commanding Soweto Derby victory over Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.

The triumph, sealed by goals from Tshepang Moremi, Oswin Appollis, and Evidence Makgopa at a packed Soccer City, was Pirates’ most significant league win against their rivals in 25 years.

The result temporarily propelled the Buccaneers back to the top of the Betway Premiership standings, pending Mamelodi Sundowns’ match against Sekhukhune United on Sunday.

Pirates’s spirit delights Ouaddou

Ouaddou emphasised that the win was about more than just strategy. “Today, it was more than tactics, more than technique,” he stated. “In this game, you have to play with heart. You have to play with spirit. And today, that’s what the players did, and I hope they will continue to do so until the end of the season.”

The performance marked a dramatic turnaround for Pirates, who had recently suffered a league defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns and a shock Nedbank Cup exit at the hands of second-tier side Casric Stars. When asked what had changed, Ouaddou pointed to his team’s clinical finishing.

“The fighting spirit of our team has been there for a while, since the beginning of the season. And the aim to play quality football as well is still there,” he explained. “What changed today is the efficiency in the area of truth. It means that in the finishing, we were spot on. I have to give credit to our boys.”

Scoring early put pressure on Chiefs

The coach expressed immense pride in his squad’s display, calling it the standard he expects. “I’m really happy. I’m proud of my boys today. That is the kind of performance that I’m expecting from them, high level and playing with high ambition,” Ouaddou said.

He also highlighted the importance of their fast start. “We wanted to score early, and they did it. We played against a very good team, but the fact that we scored early put them under pressure in the first half and helped us to develop our game.”

Looking ahead, Ouaddou sees the derby win as a benchmark for the remainder of the campaign. “I can say that for me, it’s really a reference game. We have to build on that until the end of the season,” he concluded.

Pirates will look to carry this momentum into their next league fixture when they travel to face Polokwane City on Wednesday.