Ouaddou: Fans Will Have Their Questions
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed his dissatisfaction after his team suffered a 2-1 loss to Marumo Gallants in Tuesday’s Betway Premiership match.
This defeat marks the Buccaneers’ second straight loss, with Ouaddou acknowledging the possibility of fans questioning the team’s direction under his guidance.
They entered this match following a home defeat against Sekhukhune United over the weekend.
“The outcome was not what we expected,” Ouaddou remarked on SuperSport TV post-match.
“We approached this game with high hopes, aiming to recover the three points we lost at home. I think we started well, scoring first and creating many opportunities that unfortunately went unconverted.
“As I previously stated, not converting your chances while allowing the other team to score makes things tough.”
Pirates opened the scoring with Patrick Maswanganyi’s goal in the 16th minute, but Gallants brought the game level just before halftime through Daniel Msendami, ultimately securing victory with a late goal from Jaisen Clifford in the 90th minute.
“This is a huge disappointment, and we did not perform well. We will need to reflect on this, without a doubt,” Ouaddou continued.
“This club holds great significance. Fans will naturally start questioning our current situation, but for now, we will focus on working diligently behind the scenes to ensure we improve in our next match.”
The Moroccan coach acknowledged the need for his team to assess their performance and identify areas for improvement.
“We will review the match and identify what went wrong, especially in the second half,” he mentioned.
“We tried to make some changes to bring in fresh energy, but unfortunately, the substitutions did not produce the desired effect.
“Yes, it’s a major letdown, but we will analyze, reassess, and aim to bounce back stronger next time.”
This loss places Pirates in 14th position on the league table, while Gallants climb to the top with six points.
The Buccaneers look to bounce back in their next fixture against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semifinal on Saturday at Orlando Stadium.
On the other hand, Gallants will return to action next Wednesday against AmaZulu.
