Ouaddou reveals how Pirates survived first-half Derby scare

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has admitted that his side’s poor start nearly cost them the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs. The Buccaneers eventually won 2-1 at a packed FNB Stadium, but Ouaddou said the first half was a real scare.

Pirates looked shaky early on. Chiefs created several clear chances and could easily have gone 3-1 up. The young Pirates team struggled to find their rhythm and looked nervous in the big game. Ouaddou said the lack of experience almost cost them.

“We were not good enough in the first half,” he explained. “Our players are young and they bring energy and ideas, but a derby is different. You need calm heads when the pressure is high.”

Pirates are one of the youngest sides in the PSL. Ouaddou had given first team chances to new faces Simphiwe Masilela, Mpho Padime and Thapelo Mokobodi. The bold selection paid off later, but it caused problems at the start.

After the break the Buccaneers improved sharply. They took control of the midfield, created better chances and scored the goals that turned the match around. The second-half performance was much stronger and more composed.

Ouaddou praised the way his players reacted. “The boys showed character. They listened and they fought back. That is what matters in a derby.” He dedicated the win to the Pirates supporters. The fans had been disappointed after a recent loss in the MTN8, so the coach said the result was a gift to them.

The victory gives Pirates the bragging rights in Soweto for now. It also shows that the young squad can recover when things go wrong. Ouaddou believes the experience will help the team grow.

“We must learn from the first half,” he said. “Next time we want to start better and stay focused from the kick-off. The players have talent, but they still need more games like this to become consistent.”

The Soweto Derby remains one of the biggest matches on the South African calendar. For Pirates, surviving the early pressure and finishing strongly was the key to taking the points.

Source: https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2117202617008795957

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