Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has challenged his players to improve their composure and finishing despite their 1-0 victory over Sekhukhune United in the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals.
The Buccaneers booked their place in the semi-finals on Saturday thanks to Mpho Padime’s first-half goal. However, the result did little to hide Ouaddou’s frustration with aspects of his team’s performance.
The Pirates coach was pleased with qualification but made it clear that his players must raise their standards if they want to defend their title.
Ouaddou unhappy with Pirates’ lack of control
Speaking after the match, Ouaddou highlighted his team’s tendency to lose possession cheaply and struggle to manage situations when under pressure.
He believes Pirates should have controlled the game better instead of making unnecessary mistakes that allowed Sekhukhune to remain in contention.
“We will have to work on the control because everything was not perfect. Yes, I’m happy to go to the semi-final, but not like that. We have to improve,” he said.
The Moroccan coach was particularly unhappy with the team’s decision-making when opportunities arose to put the match beyond Sekhukhune.
“I’d like to have more control; we are panicking sometimes for nothing.
“We are losing cheap balls in the heart of the game. We have the opportunity to kill the game. We kick the ball in the stand; we still have a lot of work,” Ouaddou added.
His comments suggest that, despite the positive result, Pirates still have important areas to address before their next major challenges.
Pirates turn attention to Carling Knockout semi-finals
The Buccaneers will discover their semi-final opponents after the remaining quarter-final fixtures are completed.
A potential meeting with Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs would create another highly anticipated derby, although Pirates will have to wait for the draw to know who stands between them and a place in the final.
Ouaddou also understands that his team will need to become more clinical if they are serious about retaining the Carling Knockout trophy.
With time available to work on their finishing and game management, the coach will be looking for a more convincing performance in the next round.
CAF Champions League challenge also awaits
Pirates’ ambitions extend beyond domestic competition, with an anticipated CAF Champions League clash against Simba also on the horizon.
The coaching staff will therefore be focused on improving the team’s attacking efficiency, possession control and decision-making.
Although the victory over Sekhukhune keeps their cup defence alive, Ouaddou knows that similar mistakes could prove costly against stronger opposition.
Can Abdeslam Ouaddou guide Orlando Pirates to another Carling Knockout title, or will their finishing problems catch up with them?
