Orlando Pirates may have cruised into the next round of the Carling Knockout, but head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was far from impressed after Tuesday night’s 3-0 victory over Milford.
The Buccaneers produced a strong first-half display to put the tie beyond doubt, but their inability to add to the score after the break left Ouaddou frustrated.
The Pirates coach accused his players of being too selfish and making poor decisions in the final third — a warning that comes at a crucial point in their season.
Ouaddou unhappy despite Pirates victory
While Pirates secured a comfortable win and kept a clean sheet, Ouaddou said the result was one of the few positives he could take from the performance.
The coach was particularly unhappy with players choosing to shoot instead of passing to teammates who were in better positions to score.
For Ouaddou, those decisions could become costly when Pirates face stronger opposition and compete for major trophies.
The Moroccan coach believes his side must improve their decision-making if they are serious about challenging for the Betway Premiership title and continental honours.
‘We’re going to win nothing’
Ouaddou issued a blunt warning to his squad after the match.
He believes Pirates cannot afford to continue playing in the same manner if they want to achieve their ambitions this season.
The message is simple: winning is important, but performances and discipline in key moments will ultimately determine whether Pirates finish the campaign with silverware.
The 3-0 victory sends Pirates into the next round of the Carling Knockout, but Ouaddou clearly wants much more from his players.
Soweto Derby now awaits
Pirates do not have much time to dwell on the victory.
Their attention now turns to one of the biggest fixtures in South African football — the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs.
With the league title race heating up, the derby represents another major test of Pirates’ credentials.
The Buccaneers have made an impressive start to their Betway Premiership campaign, but the question now is whether they can maintain that consistency when the pressure increases.
Ouaddou’s warning could therefore be perfectly timed.
Can Orlando Pirates turn their strong start into Betway Premiership silverware, or will their wastefulness and poor decision-making ultimately cost them?
