Orlando Pirates’ treble-winning tactician Abdeslam Ouaddou has broken his silence on his controversial post-season comments, assuring the Ghost that he is back, fully recharged, and completely committed to the Soweto giants.
The 46-year-old Moroccan mentor enjoyed an absolute fairy-tale debut campaign at Mayfair, masterminding a domestic clean sweep by lifting the Betway Premiership, the MTN8, and the Carling Knockout titles. However, his honest admission of feeling “exhausted” at the end of last season sent shockwaves through the local football fraternity, sparking wild speculation that he was set to quit the club.
The True Cost of High-Performance Leadership
Speaking from Orlando Pirates’ pre-season training base in Marbella, Spain, Ouaddou addressed the rumors head-on. He explained that leading a club of the Buccaneers’ magnitude carries a colossal physical and mental burden.
“I really had a good time [resting], I was just honest with people,” Ouaddou admitted. “I felt tired, you know, because to lead such a fantastic club, with fantastic fans, it’s demanding. Everybody knows that it’s demanding. So, I don’t understand why some people don’t understand that sometimes coaches can be tired.”
Fortunately for Pirates supporters, the off-season break did exactly what it was supposed to.
“I’m back, and I have recharged all my batteries,” Ouaddou declared. “I’m not 100%, I’m 2000%.”
Shunning the Rumor Mill
The former Moroccan international also addressed reports linking him with lucrative managerial vacancies in Europe and North Africa, emphasizing his deep sense of gratitude toward the Orlando Pirates hierarchy.
“What I want to say is, I have read a lot of things. That there was interest in me from North Africa, in Europe. People need to understand that I’m a very loyal person. I have a lot of respect for these people [Orlando Pirates management]. They gave me the opportunity to lead such a big club. It’s not given to anybody. So I must be very loyal.”
With the speculation firmly put to bed and his batteries firing at maximum capacity, Ouaddou is entirely focused on defending Pirates’ domestic crown and plotting a formidable assault on the CAF Champions League.
