Abdeslam Ouaddou, head coach of Orlando Pirates, embraces goalscorer Evidence Makgopa in the Betway Premiership clash Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium.
Image: Nic Bothma/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou praised his team’s "fighting spirit" and promised his "warriors" are "going to fight until the last second" of the Betway Premiership title race.
Pirates beat Stellenbosch FC 2-0 at the Athlone Stadium on Tuesday evening to edge to within just two points of the league-leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Buccaneers arrived in Cape Town under severe pressure, with Sundowns having stretched their lead to five points. But Pirates responded to the challenge with a clinical performance, winning the duels and getting the goals through strikers Patrick Maswanganyi and Evidence Makgopa.
Ouaddou’s charges have now transferred the pressure back onto the Brazilians ahead of their all-important clash against Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.
"I think I have to really congratulate our boys for this mentality, for this fighting spirit, because today it was... I cannot say that we produced a nice football because the pitch didn't allow us, but in another area, I think the boys really, really gave me a lot of positive answers, notably in the physicality," he said.
"It led us in the title race; the guys were very brave, I’m very proud of them. I’m very proud to be the coach of these boys. Today we saw real warriors and players that clearly gave an answer. We are still here, and we’re going to fight until the last second."
The Moroccan tactician stated the battle for league supremacy between Pirates and Sundowns has been a great advert for South African football, with the excitement keeping the fans entertained right up until the end.
"You know, in every league, in every country—if you can see the Premier League in England, Manchester City, Arsenal — they're fighting. I think it's the same fight that we see in the PSL," Ouaddou said.
"It creates a lot of interest for the fans, for South African fans. It's not funny when, 10 games before the end of the season, you see the team is winning the title. So for you as a fan, if you know at the beginning of the season who is going to be champion, you lose interest.
"So this season we try to bring more competitiveness. I think the boys really did well. Let's see what will be the result at the end of the season.
"But the most important is to give this competitiveness to the PSL until the end. I think it was really a good test today for us, because you don't know what will happen in the next few matches against the rival. So for us, the dream is still here."