Orlando Pirates mentor Abdeslam Ouaddou has been rewarded for an impressive start to the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign after being named the Coach of the Month for August.
Ouaddou enjoyed an unbeaten opening month with the Buccaneers, guiding the Soweto giants to three victories and one draw in their first four league matches.
Pirates opened their campaign in convincing fashion with a 2-0 victory over newly promoted Milford FC on 1 August. They followed that result with a 1-1 draw against AmaZulu away from home.
The Buccaneers then produced another dominant display, defeating Chippa United 3-0, before ending August on a high with a 2-0 victory over Sekhukhune United on 25 August.
Across those four matches, Pirates scored seven goals and conceded just once, underlining the defensive solidity and attacking efficiency that helped Ouaddou secure the monthly coaching prize.
The Moroccan coach faced strong competition from Mamelodi Sundowns mentor Miguel Cardoso, who also recorded three wins and a draw during August.
Sundowns defeated TS Galaxy 3-2, drew 1-1 with Kaizer Chiefs and beat Marumo Gallants 2-0 before producing an emphatic 5-2 victory over AmaZulu to close out the month.
Cardoso’s side scored 11 goals during the period, compared with Pirates’ seven, but Ouaddou’s team conceded only once — four fewer goals than Sundowns.
That defensive record, combined with Pirates’ unbeaten start, appears to have helped Ouaddou edge the competition and claim the Betway Premiership Coach of the Month accolade.
The award is an early recognition of Ouaddou’s impact since taking charge at Orlando Pirates, with the Buccaneers making a strong statement at the beginning of the new league season.
Who Had the Better August?
Ouaddou delivered an unbeaten month with Pirates, while Cardoso’s Sundowns produced the division’s highest-scoring run.
Was Abdeslam Ouaddou the right choice for Coach of the Month, or should Miguel Cardoso have won the award?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
