Orlando Pirates recently wrapped up their third consecutive pre-season camp in Spain, offering crucial insights into the team's direction under new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
Top 10 observations from the Buccaneers' preparations:
- Coaching Continuity Under Ouaddou: The new French-Moroccan coach appears to be favoring stability over radical changes. Having taken over from the highly successful Jose Riveiro, who departed after a three-year stint yielding five trophies, Ouaddou seems content to largely stick with the established framework, suggesting a strong belief in the squad's core strengths and tactical philosophy.
- Mbekezeli Mbokazi's Versatility at Left-Back: Mbokazi, a promising youngster promoted last season who excelled as a solid centre-back under Riveiro, was surprisingly deployed at left-back in several matches. This move showcased both his defensive discipline and his ability to contribute offensively, hinting at an expanded and more versatile role for him in the upcoming season.
- Siyabonga Ndlozi's Centre-Back Experiment: Similar to Mbokazi, Ndlozi, typically a right-back, was also tested in an unfamiliar centre-back position at times. He performed commendably, maintaining a solid defensive presence throughout his appearances, indicating the coaching staff's desire for tactical flexibility within the squad.
- Tshepang Moremi Set to Replace Mohau Nkota: New signing Tshepang Moremi, recently acquired from AmaZulu, seems earmarked as the direct replacement for Mohau Nkota, who made the switch to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq. This suggests Pirates are looking to fill the void left by Nkota's departure with a player who can offer similar attacking impetus.
- Persistent Struggles with Set-Pieces: A familiar challenge from last season continued to haunt the Buccaneers: their poor defending from set-pieces. Weaknesses in defending aerial balls were evident in Spain, indicating this remains a significant area requiring urgent attention and improvement ahead of the new campaign.
- Patrick Maswanganyi Yet to Find Consistent Form: While he managed to score a goal in the final pre-season match against Granada, Patrick Maswanganyi's overall performances lacked consistency. As the team's primary playmaker, his ability to consistently dictate play and inject creativity into the team appeared to be lacking at times, suggesting he's still searching for his best rhythm.
- Nkosinathi Sibisi as New Captain-Elect: The Bafana Bafana defender, Nkosinathi Sibisi, prominently wore the captain's armband in most of the games played in Spain. This strongly suggests he is the prime candidate to take over the captaincy following Innocent Maela's recent retirement, signaling a new leadership era.
- Relebohile Mofokeng Still Carrying the Team: Relebohile Mofokeng's exceptional form from last season carried directly into pre-season. He consistently stepped up in every game he played, contributing two or three crucial goals that the Sea Robbers brought back from Spain. His sustained impact highlights his vital role as a game-changer for the team.
- Mbokazi: A Future Captain?: Adding to the leadership narrative, Mbokazi also donned the armband in one of the matches. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou reportedly praised his leadership skills, potentially earmarking the versatile youngster as a future captain for the club, highlighting his potential beyond just his playing position.
- Mbuthuma's Challenge to Strikers: The arrival of new striker Mbuthuma is set to provide a significant challenge to established forwards Evidence Makgopa and Tshegofatso Mabasa. Described as a team player and hard worker possessing skills reminiscent of both Makgopa's aerial ability and Mabasa's finishing, Mbuthuma looks poised to intensify competition for starting berths upfront.
