Evidence Makgopa and Relebohile Mofokeng have been reliable for Orlando Pirates but to win the league race against Mamelodi Sundowns, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has advised them to be condistent.
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Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou knows the Betway Premiership title race is a 10-month and 30-game marathon, which is why he’s urged his troops to constantly preserve the principles that will make them victorious in the end.
Ouaddou has steered Pirates to the top of the log in the title race so far. They are neck and neck with second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns on 44 points, leading on a superior goal difference.
Granted, they’ve shown a dominant approach this season, getting crucial points home and away, including in the 2-1 win over Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night, but they’ve been lacking consistency, especially up front.
The Sea Robbers were the better team against City, but they struggled to convert their dominance into goals, resulting in a nervy finish after Bonginkosi Dlamini cancelled out Relebohile Mofokeng’s lead in the 86th minute. Patrick Maswangayi was then needed to save Pirates from dropping points in stoppage time.
While pleased with the ultimate result under muddy pitch conditions due to rain in Polokwane, Ouaddou urged his team to be at their best with every passing game. He was almost asking for the same clinical urgency they showed in the 3-0 win over arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby last Saturday.
“The PSL is a stronger league. It’s very tight this season – it’s a marathon race. In a marathon, you don’t have to calm down in terms of rhythm and winning,” Ouaddou said.
“We need to give our best in every game and take points. In the end, we’ll see. But again, I have to thank my boys for the character they showed today. It’s not easy playing here.”
Ouaddou would have been more satisfied with his troops if they had converted their chances and put the game to bed early, but he still lauded their resilience in grinding out the win.
“I think Orlando Pirates are capable of scoring early,” Ouaddou said. “But the fact that we scored late shows our never-say-die attitude. Our boys believe until the end, and that’s football.
“They didn’t give up. They kept fighting until the end. So, I am very happy for them, the club, and the fans.”
Although Pirates were not clinical on the day, attacker Oswin Appollis huffed and puffed to get on the scoresheet, but it wasn’t to be.
Polokwane City goalkeeper Lindokuhle Mathebula was solid, despite conceding twice. Given all the match circumstances, Ouaddou was still thrilled with Appollis’ contribution, saying the Bafana Bafana international is one of the team’s driving forces up front.
“There are games like that, but Oswin was a very important man for us in the game,” Ouaddou said. “He tried to create for the players, made them play, and was mobile and active in the central corridors.
“There are nights like that, and we have to accept it. I hope that in the next games, the goals will come for him.”
While Pirates were their own worst enemies against Rise and Shine, they momentarily felt hard-done by the referee. Luxolo Badi initially awarded a penalty for a handball inside the box but overruled his decision after consulting with one of his assistants.
Ouaddou, after a slight review of the incident which showed the ball came off the defender's chest before striking his hand, refused to blame the referee for a poor call.
“I want to put myself in the shoes of the referee. It’s not easy – the action is too fast to see. So, I don’t have to blame anyone,” Ouaddou said.
With the minister of sports, Gayton Mckenzie, declaring that the rollout of VAR is imminent after giving Safa funding for the refereeing system to curb mistakes and assist referees, Ouaddou refused to be drawn into the conversation.
“It’s not my job to answer that. I am just coaching my team and trying to play some nice football to be ambitious for our club and fans. If something has to be decided in that case, I put my trust and confidence in the institution,” Ouaddou said.
*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