Ouaddou has burden lifted off shoulders

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou looked a man with a major burden lifted off his shoulders after his club edged Stellenbosch 1-0 in Soweto on Wednesday to register their first points of the new Betway Premiership campaign.

Ouaddou had been under much pressure after the surprise loss at home to Sekhukhune United and then defeat away by Marumo Gallants in Pirates’ opening two games of the league season.

But a first-half scorcher from Kamogelo Sebelebele saw Pirates shoot up the standings as the defeated the club from the Cape.

“Very happy, very happy about the result, of course,” Ouaddou said afterwards.

“We have been waiting for that moment for two, three weeks now. I think we started exactly how we wanted to play. We had a very high block, preventing Stellenbosch from building, pushing them to play long balls and to put them under high pressure.

"We managed to create a lot of chances. It was a positive thing and we completely dominated the first half,” he added.

But it was not always smooth sailing from Pirates as the coach said. “My only disappointment is maybe during 25 minutes in the second half, we lost control.

"We have to learn to kill the game and to score two, three goals and not to be afraid. But let's not be too hard. Let's enjoy this first three points and I hope it's the beginning of our season,” he added.

Ouaddou had gone into the game with a full-strength side, electing not to rest players for Saturday’s MTN8 semifinal, second leg tie at Atteridgeville against Mamelodi Sundowns.

“In the position that we were, of course, you have to think of priorities, and our priority was to take three points and to at least start to open the season, you know. Of course, we have a very important game on Saturday, but in football, sometimes there are some priorities.

"We were not in a position that we could afford to focus on the next game, because the game against Stellenbosch was very important to win and to start our season,” added Ouaddou.