Orlando Pirates Abdeslam Ouaddou’s approach to ‘player freedom’ off to slow start after Sekhukhune defeat
Orlando Pirates’ new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou’s emphasis on player freedom and creativity faced a challenging start with a 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United, despite dominating the game with 13 shots and the lion’s share of possession. Picture: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
It was certainly not the start to their Betway Premiership campaign Orlando Pirates had envisioned, but new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has insisted the players will be able to play with renewed freedom during their campaign.
Pirates finished second to Mamelodi Sundowns last season, as the Brazilians claimed their eighth league title in a row.
Though it’s difficult to see any SA side challenging Sundowns for the league title in the near future, it’s widely believed that Pirates are their closest challengers.
That challenge, though, got off to a rough start over the weekend as Pirates fell to a 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United.
Pirates Dominate Game But Fall Short on Goals
It was a particularly bitter result for Pirates as they were completely dominant in every aspect of the game, with the exception that they could not find a goal.
Hosts Pirates had 13 shots on goal to the six of Sekhukhune, 67% of the ball and completed 507 passes to the 254 of the visitors at Orlando Stadium.
Earlier in the week, Ouaddou spoke about how he wanted his charges to approach the new season.
Ouaddou Emphasises Creativity for Talented Players
“I’m a happy coach. When you have such talented players. Of course, you can have a headache at the end of the week to make your starting eleven,” said Ouaddou.
“But yes, I want to give my players - especially these kinds of players, these talented ones - autonomy. I don’t want to block them in the way they play.
“Of course, I give them some principles, very important, we don’t have to kill the creativity for these kinds of players. As a coach. It is a crime to do that.”
The big talking point in the wake of their loss was why last season’s top-scorer for Pirates in the league, Tshegofatso Mabasa, was left out of the side.
After the game, though, Ouaddou said it was simply a selection call he made as he went for Boitumelo Radiopane to start the match with Yanela Mbuthuma as cover on the bench.