Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou reacted to a historic Soweto derby win as Orlando Pirates secured five consecutive league derby victories for the first time in the PSL era. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media
Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media
Abdeslam Ouaddou further endeared himself to The Ghost and momentarily etched his name in the history books of Orlando Pirates as records were either broken, created or matched after he took charge of his first Soweto derby on Saturday.
Already a popular figure at Pirates after winning a cup double in the first half of the season – the MTN8 and Carling Cup – Ouaddou still knows that he’ll fully become one with the club once he ends their 14-year drought in the league, the Betway Premiership.
The Moroccan has taken that challenge in his stride as he’s guided the team to 41 points after the 17 rounds of matches in the league, with their notable blemishes: three defeats, including to champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
With the loss to the Brazilians having come recently, Ouaddou’s team has shown to have a rapid response. They bounced back to winning ways in style in the league, beating arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in the Soweto derby to all but eliminate them from the title race.
Ouaddou’s derby experience was made sweeter by the performance and results. Pirates won the first five league derbies in a row for the first time ever in the PSL era, while Ouaddou became the first Bucs’ coach since Ruud Krol in 2008 to win his Soweto derby. Pirates also beat Chiefs with a heavy scoreline for the first time in 25 years.
The Moroccan, who’s used to derby experiences both as a player and now as a coach, having played for Fulham whose rivalry is against Chelsea in the EPL, and Olympiacos who forged an intense feud with Panathinaikos in the Greece Super League, reflected on his ground-breaking start to one of the continent’s biggest rivalries.
“It was a fantastic experience for me,” Ouaddou said.
“We won the first derby, and that was extremely important for the boys, and myself as the coach. It’s good for the fans; it gives the players trust and keeps them going.
“I think we still have 13 games to play this season. So, we must build on that to be aggressive until the end of the season.”
A globetrotter of note after being born in Morocco, raised in France, played in Europe and Middle- East, and coached in Africa, Ouaddou has weighed in what’s sweeter between playing or coaching in the derby.
“To play the derby for me as a player, and coach, I think for me it’s the same feeling,” Ouaddou said. “There’s still rivalry, so the taste is the same – spicy.
“The difference is when you are a player – you focus on your own performance because you want to look good, play well for the fans, and produce a good performance. But as the coach, you are looking at 20-35 players.
“So, for me, it doesn’t make much difference. It’s an important game for the fans. Two of the big clubs in Africa. So, for me, it was not only about the Soweto derby, but a Champions League match.”
Ouaddou is not getting carried away by his first Soweto derby triumph, thinking they are title champions in waiting. He knows that they must approach the rest of the 17 matches in the league with the same mentality, and attitude as Saturday, something that will enhance their chances of toppling Sundowns.
“We are here to play the game, and every game that we are playing we want to win,” Ouaddou said. “We have to keep the same spirit every game, and definitely go with the aim and target to win every game.
“It’s only with that mentality that at the end you can dream about clinching the title. I am not here to calculate if I prefer to be first or chase. God knows that two weeks ago we were not in the same spirit. So, we have to take this victory with happiness.
“We need to build on that performance. I feel that the boys did well today. It was not easy to manage the pressure of that kind of game.”
A league triumph would earn Ouaddou a legendary status at the club. And he’s on track to achieve that – having relished a soothing derby experience.
*Mihlali Baleka is Independent Media's senior football reporter and a panelist on the group's soccer podcast, The D-Line, which is exclusive on our YouTube channel The Clutch