Orlando Pirates recently confirmed Abdeslam Ouaddou as their new coach, taking over from Jose Riveiro, who left following the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2024/25 season.
The Spaniard had coached the Buccaneers for three seasons, winning five titles in the process. In his final year as Bucs' coach, the club reached the Caf Champions League semi-final but lost to eventual champions Pyramids.
The Soweto giants' faithful anticipated a big name to be unveiled by the management, but it was the former Marumo Gallants tactician who was given the mandate to take the team forward. While the majority of the fans have questioned whether it was a wise move, Bucs legend Benedict ‘Tso' Vilakazi is convinced the former Morocco international will deliver.
‘Ouaddou will take Pirates to the next level'
“Look, he did very well at Marumo Gallants, they [Pirates supporters] just have to give him the support and confidence to say we believe in you, and we saw the job you did at Gallants and hope you will do it here at Pirates,” he said as quoted by Sowetan.
“He is a good coach looking at what he did with Gallants. He didn't even have a pre-season with them. We always know Gallants to be fighting for relegation, but he put them in a position where they didn't have to worry about that. Just imagine with the material and resources at Pirates, I think he can take the club to another level.
“He has an opportunity to create his history because he will find good players at Pirates. “I think he is going to do well, we just need to give him time and I think it is good that he will have a pre-season with the team, unlike at Gallants, yet he still put them in a good position. Imagine with the good players Pirates have … I think things will be much better,” Vilakazi concluded.
Pirates are now preparing for pre-season assignments in Spain before a busy 2025/26 season.
