Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou believes the neck-and-neck race with Mamelodi Sundowns is exactly what South African football needs. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Orlando Pirates’ coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says the tight battle in the Betway Premiership title race brings “interest and excitement” to local football, unlike when the league was all but decided midway through the season.
Pirates have shown their title charge this season, leading the log standings with 44 points and a superior goal difference, ahead of the second-placed champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who are level on points after the 19th round of matches.
“There is a lot of interest, and that’s nice for football and fans,” Ouaddou said. “When the team is leading with 15 points in the middle of the season, what interest do we have?
“But I think at the moment, it’s what the fans want. It is what football can offer, and the two teams are fighting. And that’s good for South African football.”
As the season approaches its final quarter, the two teams are widely expected to take the title race to the wire, given that they’ve shown championship credentials, with never-say-die attitudes and abilities to overcome adversities both on and off the pitch.
Pirates have scored late goals, including in the 2-1 win over Polokwane City on Wednesday night, as they overcame a nervy end to the match after the hosts nearly punished them for being wasteful in front of goal.
Pirates, moreover, have mastered the art of bouncing back after a set-back. They beat arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in the Soweto derby last Saturday, snapping a two-game losing streak, including to Sundowns in the league and minnows Casric Stars in the Nedbank Cup last-16.
Given all that, and a rock-solid defensive structure which has conceded the least goals (seven) in 19 league matches this season, it’s understandable why Ouaddou believes there’s a huge interest in the title race this season.
*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