Abdeslam Ouaddou: Orlando Pirates must show ‘strong character’ to stay top

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has warned that the hardest work for his side is only just beginning after they moved three points clear at the top of the Betway Premiership, insisting that staying at the summit will demand far more than simply winning matches.

Pirates’ 2-0 victory over AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday night lifted them to 35 points after 15 matches — three points above defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in second, and five clear of arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in third. But rather than celebrating the statement result, Ouaddou immediately turned his focus to the psychological challenge of leading the title race.

“I’m very happy. The journey is continuing, the adventure is continuing. We are now first on the log,” Ouaddou said.

“The most difficult thing now is to stay there. I hope my players will have a strong mentality, strong character, strong personality to hold this place and not to leave it.”

Ouaddou’s caution was shaped by a contest that underlined just how small the margins can be at the top of the table. While Pirates executed their plan effectively and took their chances, the coach acknowledged that the outcome could easily have been different.

“I think we came to take points here. It’s what we did. We started exactly like we wanted. We opened the scoring quickly,” he said. “We knew it would be one of the most difficult games in the PSL.”

AmaZulu’s organisation and tactical discipline under coach Arthur Zwane forced Pirates to remain patient, reinforcing Ouaddou’s belief that every opponent will see matches against the league leaders as an opportunity.

“We played against a good team, very good players, strategic coach. He gave us a lot of trouble with his system,” he said. “It was so difficult in the first half to find space; they were very compact.”

For Ouaddou, these are the kinds of tests his side must be prepared to face week after week as the pressure intensifies to reclaim a title they last won in the 2011-2012 season. Their recent dominance of local cup competitions has done little to quell the hunger for the ‘big one’ among the club’s fans.

“It’s a tricky game because if (Sipho) Chaine didn’t save us, I think this game could have finished 1-1 at the end,” he said, pointing to the fine line between control and vulnerability at the top of the standings.

Despite that, Pirates’ ability to adapt during matches and draw impact from their squad depth has strengthened Ouaddou’s belief that team unity will be decisive over the rest of the season.

“We made some tactical adjustment, changes as well, and the impact players brought us the second goal,” he said.

Yet, Ouaddou was quick to downplay any sense of entitlement that can accompany leading the league, stressing that calm and consistency, rather than expectation, must guide Pirates’ approach.

“For us, it’s just not to be stressful, not to have pressure at all,” he said. “It’s just to play our football, to keep that organisation, that unity, that strong spirit and play game after game, and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”

With cup commitments next on the calendar, Ouaddou believes managing emotions and maintaining focus will be as important as tactical preparation.

“The journey is continuing,” he said. “We are excited to keep working hard, excited to keep believing well together, to have a top team spirit.”