Abdeslam Ouaddou took over as Orlando Pirates coach a couple of days ago, replacing Jose Riveiro, who is now at the helm of Al Ahly.
The focus will now be on the former Marumo Gallants head coach, who has a massive task to fit into the shoes left by the Spaniard. In his three years at the club, Riveiro won five titles and finished behind Mamelodi Sundowns in the Premier Soccer League for three consecutive seasons.
In his final year, the Sea Robbers reached the Caf Champions League semi-final before a narrow loss against eventual champions Pyramids. It explains why the former Morocco international will be under pressure to deliver.
‘If you perform in training, you will play'
Vusi Sibiya, who played under Ouaddou at Gallants, has revealed what is expected of players at Bucs.
“Coach Abdee is a good coach; all I can say to Pirates is that he demands hard work from his players. As long as you put in the effort, you’ll get a chance to play on his team. He doesn’t show favouritism, and he selects players purely on merit,” he told SNL24.
“If you perform in training, you will play. It’s as simple as that, regardless of your age – whether you’re a youngster or an experienced player, performance is what earns you a spot.
“He’s a man of principles who values a high work rate, and when it’s time to work, there’s no room for messing around. With that coach, if you’re not giving your best, you’re only hurting yourself, because you won’t play,” Sibiya concluded.
