Ouaddou Admits Chiefs Could Have Killed Pirates’ Derby Hopes — His Tactical Errors Nearly Cost Them

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has acknowledged that his tactical mistakes could have proved costly against Kaizer Chiefs, admitting that Amakhosi had opportunities to punish his side during the first half of Saturday’s highly anticipated Soweto Derby.

The Buccaneers secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over their fierce rivals at FNB Stadium on Saturday, October 31, 2026, but the result did not come without significant difficulties for Ouaddou’s men.

Pirates initially struggled to impose themselves on the contest, with Chiefs displaying considerable attacking intent and putting the defending league champions under pressure.

Yanela Mbuthuma opened the scoring for Pirates before Pule Mmodi restored parity for Amakhosi, ensuring that both teams went into the half-time break level at 1-1.

Chiefs appeared capable of taking greater advantage of Pirates’ defensive vulnerabilities, leaving Ouaddou with important tactical questions to address.

The Moroccan tactician subsequently made adjustments during the interval, introducing Giamphani Lungu for Nkosikhona Ndaba and repositioning Deon Hotto to improve his team’s balance and attacking structure.

The changes helped Pirates regain control, with Tshepang Moremi capitalising on a mistake by Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen to score the decisive goal in the second half.

Although the Buccaneers eventually emerged victorious, Ouaddou’s assessment highlights how easily the outcome could have been different had Chiefs taken better advantage of the opportunities presented to them.

The victory takes Orlando Pirates to the top of the Betway Premiership standings, strengthening their position in the title race while delivering another significant blow to their Soweto rivals.

For Ouaddou, the derby victory represents three valuable points, but the tactical shortcomings exposed during the opening half remain important lessons for the Buccaneers moving forward.

Note: The match details and tactical substitutions are supported by the published match report. The specific admission about his tactical errors is presented as your supplied information, not as a verified direct quotation.

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