Pirates Coach Makes Surprising Admission After Soweto Derby Victory That Left Chiefs Fans Talking

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has made a surprising admission following his team’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in Saturday’s Soweto Derby, revealing that his own tactical decisions nearly cost the Buccaneers all three points.

The Moroccan coach accepted responsibility for Pirates’ difficult first-half performance after attempting a tactical experiment that failed to produce the desired results against their fierce Soweto rivals. His honest assessment has provided an insight into the decisions that shaped one of South African football’s biggest matches.

The eagerly anticipated encounter took place at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 31 October 2026, with both teams determined to secure bragging rights and strengthen their positions in the Betway Premiership.

Despite eventually securing victory, Ouaddou acknowledged that his original approach left Pirates vulnerable during the opening half.

One of his most notable decisions was deploying experienced defender Deon Hotto at right-back, an unfamiliar position for the player, in an attempt to surprise Chiefs and protect Bulelani Sigomoshe.

However, the experiment did not work as planned, allowing Amakhosi to take advantage of the problems Pirates experienced during the opening 45 minutes.

Ouaddou did not attempt to shift the blame onto his players when discussing the situation after the match.

“I could have cost the game, but sometimes you have to be honest to see it,” the coach admitted, acknowledging that his tactical choices had put his team under pressure.

His comments demonstrated a willingness to accept responsibility despite delivering a victory in a fixture that carries enormous expectations from supporters.

Pirates opened the scoring through Yanela Mbuthuma in the 23rd minute, giving the Buccaneers an early advantage.

However, their lead lasted only six minutes before Pule Mmodi equalised for Chiefs, taking advantage of a goalkeeping error by Sipho Chaine.

Amakhosi continued creating opportunities and looked capable of taking control of the contest before half-time.

Ouaddou later admitted that Chiefs could have gone into the break with a 3-1 advantage had they converted their chances.

The Pirates coach’s assessment highlighted how easily the result could have changed if Amakhosi had been more clinical in front of goal.

With the score level at 1-1, Ouaddou used the interval to correct his tactical mistakes.

He made adjustments to the team’s structure, changed personnel and returned players to positions better suited to their strengths.

The changes helped Pirates regain control and improve their attacking movement in the second half.

Tshepang Moremi eventually scored the decisive goal, securing a 2-1 victory and handing the Buccaneers valuable points in the title race.

The result moved Orlando Pirates to the top of the Betway Premiership standings, strengthening their position in the early-season title race.

For Ouaddou, however, the derby victory also offered an important lesson about the risks associated with tactical experimentation in high-pressure matches.

Although his decisions nearly cost Pirates the game, his half-time adjustments helped secure a memorable result.

The coach will now be hoping his team builds on the victory while avoiding similar first-half difficulties in their upcoming fixtures. 

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