Orlando Pirates' coach Abdeslam Ouaddou stays grounded despite stellar run and growing praise

Despite wearing an elbow brace like the cyborg assassin, The Terminator, Abdeslam Ouaddou believes he's neither hard to detect nor using rifles and shurikens to attack his opponents.

Instead, he says he’s working hard with his players during training and giving them the best strategies to annihilate the opposition.

However, speaking during the pre-match press conference ahead of the Carling Knockout last-16 clash at home to Siwelele on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off), Ouaddou remained humble, insisting he is “yet to arrive” despite the team’s impressive streak.

“To be honest, I am not focused on that (being linked with a plumber or The Terminator). The most important thing is to focus on the job and be consistent,” Ouaddou said.

“I am coaching a fantastic club and have the chance to be surrounded by a lot of South African talent who are doing a very good job. So we are just focusing on our work and trying to bring happiness to our fans."

Ouaddou had a sluggish start to life at Orlando Pirates. He lost the team’s first two games in the Betway Premiership, resulting in some of the club’s supporters, the Ghost, calling for his head.

But the club’s management stuck with him, and he has since repaid the faith shown in him. He enjoyed a purple patch in September, winning seven games — including a record-extending fourth MTN8 crown in succession — across all competitions.

Pirates' impressive run included being ruthless up front and rock-solid in defence, as they didn’t concede a single goal in all matches.

Although the wins came through individual and collective performances, a large chunk of the praise went to Ouaddou, who has since turned his critics — who once ridiculed him by calling him a "plumber" — into admirers, now praising him as "The Terminator" following his appearance wearing an elbow brace due to a recent car accident.

And that’s a stark contrast to The Terminator character, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, who boastfully said “I’ll be back” after every successful mission.

“We have to deliver results — that’s what they expect. So I don’t have time to look at social media or these other things. Every day I wake up and try to give my best in training and provide the best strategies to help my players win games.”

Indeed, Ouaddou is not looking backward or paying attention to critics. The fact that the Carling Knockout remains the only domestic trophy to have eluded the club in the past three and a half years is neither here nor there, as the team is focused on writing a new chapter.

“I wasn’t here for what happened before,” Ouaddou said. “It’s about focusing on the future and trying to do well with the players.

“We know it won’t be easy. Every competition is difficult, and every team wants to win.

“It will be another game and another opportunity for my players to give their best and try to get past that stage.”

Pirates’ recent form has been the result of Ouaddou carefully finding the right time to integrate new players and youngsters into the team — a strategy that has paid off.

Tshepang Moremi, in particular, was the standout player in the MTN8 final against Stellenbosch, coming off the bench to score a brace and register an assist in the 3-0 win.

Moremi has never looked back, netting another brace when Pirates beat Lioli in the CAF Champions League second-leg, first-round preliminary qualifier, winning the tie 7-0 on aggregate.

The 25-year-old’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, as he has been drafted into the Bafana Bafana final squad that will face Zimbabwe and Rwanda in two crucial 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers on October 10 and 14, respectively.

“I’m not surprised (that Moremi is in the Bafana squad),” Ouaddou said. “I always say that when people believe in daily hard work, they’ll be rewarded someday.”