Abdeslam Ouaddou has made a strong start to life at Orlando Pirates, but his opening weeks in charge have also required some important adjustments.
Pirates have remained unbeaten in their first four Betway Premiership matches, with three wins and a draw earning Ouaddou the Coach of the Month award.
That start has come despite the absence of two important midfielders and the departure of one of the club’s most creative attackers.
Thalente Mbatha and Masindi Nemtajela have been sidelined through injury, while Relebohile Mofokeng left Pirates for Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Rather than simply attempting to replicate last season’s team, Ouaddou has introduced new options into key positions.
Here is how three players have helped address the gaps.
1. Mthetheleli Mthiyane steps into Mbatha’s role
Replacing Thalente Mbatha was always going to be a significant challenge.
The 26-year-old played an important role in Pirates’ midfield last season, helping connect the defence with the attack while providing physicality and composure in the centre of the pitch.
Mbatha averaged 55.4 passes per 90 minutes with an 87.2% passing accuracy last season. He also won 61.5% of his duels and completed 1.8 successful dribbles per match.
Ouaddou initially experimented with Cemran Dansin and Simphiwe Selepe in the deeper midfield position.
The coach eventually turned to new signing Mthetheleli Mthiyane, who has adapted to the number-six role and established himself as an option in the position.
The 25-year-old is among Pirates’ 12 new signings this season and has been tasked with helping fill the space created by Mbatha’s absence.
2. Thapelo Mokobodi provides energy in midfield
The injury to Masindi Nemtajela created another vacancy in Ouaddou’s midfield.
Nemtajela formed an effective partnership with Mbatha last season, contributing energy, defensive work and forward movement when Pirates were under pressure.
He averaged 48.1 passes per game with an 84.5% passing accuracy, while also recording 5.8 contested ground and aerial duels won and 1.2 successful dribbles.
With Nemtajela unavailable, Ouaddou has turned to Thapelo Mokobodi.
The 23-year-old, who previously played for Stellenbosch FC, has taken up the number-eight role and offers the box-to-box qualities required in the centre of midfield.
His introduction has allowed Pirates to maintain energy and movement in an area of the pitch where they lost an established partnership.
3. Simphiwe Masilela takes on Mofokeng’s creative role
The most difficult attacking gap came with the departure of Relebohile Mofokeng.
The 21-year-old played a major role in Pirates’ historic domestic treble, ending the campaign with 11 goals and nine assists.
Mofokeng also averaged 3.9 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, with a 67.4% success rate, and produced 42 key passes.
Those numbers underline the scale of the creative responsibility that needed to be redistributed following his move to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Ouaddou initially experimented with Cemran Dansin and Patrick Maswanganyi in advanced positions.
The coach has since promoted academy graduate Simphiwe Masilela, with the 22-year-old emerging as an option in the creative role previously occupied by Mofokeng.
A new-look Pirates taking shape
Mthiyane, Mokobodi and Masilela have consequently become important pieces of Ouaddou’s early rebuild.
Each has been asked to perform a different function: Mthiyane in the deeper midfield role, Mokobodi as a box-to-box number eight and Masilela as an attacking option.
The changes highlight how much Ouaddou has already had to adapt his squad.
Rather than relying exclusively on established players, the coach has given new signings and younger players opportunities to occupy important positions.
Pirates’ unbeaten opening to the Betway Premiership season has provided an early indication of how those adjustments are working.
The bigger test will be whether these replacements can maintain that level of contribution as the season progresses and the demands on Ouaddou’s squad increase.
Which of Pirates’ new solutions has impressed you most so far?
