Ouaddou Urges Bafana Selection Following Pirates Player’s Milestone Achievement Matching Williams
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou commended goalkeeper Sipho Chaine for his outstanding achievement after he secured his 18th clean sheet of the season in Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium.
With his exceptional performance in Cape Town, Chaine has now equalled the PSL record for the most clean sheets in a single season, previously held by Ronwen Williams of Mamelodi Sundowns during the 2022/23 campaign.
This milestone also sees Chaine surpass the former club record of 17 clean sheets, a benchmark set by Moeneb Josephs, a key player in Pirates’ treble-winning squad of 2011/12.
Notably, that season marked the last time the Buccaneers secured the league championship.
How Have Orlando Pirates Surpassed Their All-Time Points Record?
In their quest for the elusive league trophy this season, Tuesday’s triumph pushed the Pirates’ total to 62 points. This is the highest tally the club has recorded in the PSL era, surpassing the 61-point record set by former coach José Riveiro last season.
Amazingly, the Pirates never reached the 62-point milestone in any of their four previous league championship seasons.
Currently, they are in second place, trailing Mamelodi Sundowns by just two points, ahead of the highly anticipated match against Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday night.
“Chaine is a crucial asset for us,” commented Ouaddou.
“I’m delighted for him for breaking the clean sheet record for Pirates; we still have more fixtures to play.
“I hope Hugo Broos, the national team coach, notices his performance, and I sincerely wish he will make the national team for the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
“He truly deserves it. He has been working tirelessly.”
Will Sipho Chaine Be Selected for the Bafana Bafana World Cup Squad?
Chaine was notably omitted from the Bafana Bafana squad for the international friendlies against Panama in Durban and Cape Town in March.
Earlier reports indicated there was some tension within the national team setup during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where Chaine reportedly raised concerns over the starting positions awarded to Mamelodi Sundowns players, including captain Ronwen Williams.
However, Chaine’s outstanding performances in domestic competitions have made it nearly impossible for national selectors to overlook him ahead of the global tournament in June.
Chaine wasn’t the only Buccaneers player acknowledged by Ouaddou. The coach also praised striker Evidence Makgopa, who netted the opening goal on Tuesday, helping Pirates secure a key league double against the Cape Winelands team.
“Makgopa as well,” added Ouaddou.
“He had a strong performance, and I’m pleased for him.”
