ORLANDO Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou will experience his first Soweto derby along with some of his new Buccaneers' players when they meet Kaizer Chiefs in the league encounter on Saturday.
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
Abdeslam Ouaddou is a globetrotter of note, having been born in Morocco, grown up in France, played football in various parts of Europe – particularly England – and now coaching in Africa
But the atmosphere that will greet him at FNB Stadium on Saturday (3.30pm kick-off), when he leads his Orlando Pirates side against arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs, will be like no other.
While hard work and sweat create sporting rivals on the pitch in the Soweto derby, harmony remains in the stands, with supporters of the two teams sitting together and continuing to share fond memories long into the night after the final whistle.
This unique experience of the two sides of Soweto coming together in the name of football is celebrated through South African culture. The chants and singing in the stands create a cacophonous atmosphere from the moment the game begins.
With that said, we look at what Ouaddou must expect from his first “sold-out Soweto derby” at the iconic World Cup venue.
The Calabash, with its staggering 90,000 capacity, will be filled to the rafters on Saturday as football fanatics from all walks of life flood into the venue.
The two teams, buoyed by their supporters, are expected to lack no motivation. After all, it is said that the spirit in both camps is already high when derby week looms.
Having self-motivated players could be a double-edged sword for Ouaddou: while he may have little need to issue instructions, his players could also decide to ignore him completely and play the occasion, not the game – a scenario that could prove catastrophic.
The Moroccan has to stand firm and be direct during preparations this week, ensuring players do not drown in the euphoria of the occasion and deviate from their game plan.
Every player dreams of competing in the Soweto derby when they join Pirates or Chiefs, as this is the most sought-after fixture in the local sporting calendar.
Given the demands that come with the game, Ouaddou – himself a newcomer preparing for his derby debut – must focus on player management ahead of the clash. Most of his troops have already hit the ground running at the club, but they shouldn’t jinx that by trying to “overdo” things on Saturday.
It is often said that the derby can either make or break a player’s career, and winning silverware or shining in matches of this magnitude is what carves a player’s name into the club’s history books, earning them legendary status.
At Pirates, Ouaddou is guaranteed to have quite a number of newcomers – possibly even in the starting lineup – on Saturday. Given the team’s shortcomings in recent weeks, there would be no better time for a star to be born and lead the team back to calmer waters in the title race.
It has been a while since the big three – Pirates, Chiefs, and Mamelodi Sundowns – were all genuine contenders in the title race. As such, when Ouaddou enters FNB Stadium, he must not only focus on the magnitude of the game in South African football but also on its importance to their title aspirations.
Granted, the bragging rights are important, but in the bigger scheme of things, the title is more significant. Pirates, despite all their strides over the years, remain down the pecking order in terms of recent league titles among the big three – Sundowns are the defending champions after eight successive triumphs, Chiefs are on an 11-year drought, and Pirates have gone 14 seasons without lifting the title.
Given all that, it will be important for Ouaddou and his troops to ensure they bounce back to winning ways on Saturday and get their league campaign back on track after losing their last two games – to Sundowns in the league and Casric Stars in the Nedbank Cup.
There is still a long way to go in the title race, but should Ouaddou stumble against Chiefs, the pressure on him will certainly mount. While missing out on silverware – even to “minnows” – is sometimes forgiven, some clubs find it hard to forgive coaches who lose the Soweto derby, especially when there is so much at stake.
*Mihlali Baleka is Independent Media's senior football reporter and a panelist on the group's soccer podcast, The D-Line, which is exclusive on our YouTube channel The Clutch