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Credit all around Pirates from victorious coach

football14 September 2025 05:00| © Mzansi Football
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Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou credited his players and staff with the ensuring success in MTN8 final on Saturday, where the club became the first in South African football to win the same competition four years in a row.

Their 3-0 victory over Stellenbosch at Mbombela Stadium was secured with a scintillating extra time performance with two goals from Tshepang Moremi and one from Tshegofatso Mabasa

“The credit has to be given to the players. It's a very good moment for us. You saw how we started the season, and to see such a brave performance and how the team played. I think we have to congratulate everybody,” he said, dedicating the win to Thapelo Xoki, goalkeeper coach Tyrone Damons and other staff members who were injured along with Ouaddou in a car accident last week.

“It's a huge, huge victory for them, of course, for the fans, for the club, and the credit has to be given for the players.”

Ouaddou said he had always expected a tough game against Stellenbosch, with the match goalless after 90 minutes.

“We knew that it would be very tactical, very close, but final are usually not all the time open. We saw two teams trying to look for space. Stellenbosch were very well organised. I said to the guys before the game that this game will be won by small details,” he explained.

“They were expecting a mistake from us. They were looking for transitions. I played against Stellenbosch when I was in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) in the African Confederation Cup, so I know exactly the philosophy of the coach and the team.

“We tried to find space between the lines and to manipulate the space in order to imbalance Stellenbosch.

“In extra time we completely changed the plan quickly with my staff, trying to find space on the side. So brought some speedy players on the side and we were able to make the difference and to bring crosses and we brought on Mabasa as well.

“We brought on Moremi and (Oswin) Apolliss on the side and it worked.

“It doesn't mean that I am a better coach than two months ago. I think maybe I'm still a plumber or carpenter for many people,” he added, having a dig at his social media critics.

“I don't think myself better than Steve Barker. I have a big, big respect for the coach. He is a very good coach of a very interesting, very interesting team. Stellenbosch is a very, very professional club so we happy to win the trophy.”

 

 

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