Ouaddou Blasts Late Lapses Despite Orlando Pirates' Win Over Magesi FC - Diski 365

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou did not hide his anger after his side's 2-1 Carling Knockout win over Magesi FC on Tuesday night. Despite reaching the semi-finals, the Moroccan-French coach cut a frustrated figure at the final whistle. Pirates dominated the game at Orlando Stadium and created several chances, but goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze kept Magesi in the contest with a series of strong saves in the first half. Goals from Tshepang Moremi and Evidence Makgopa later secured the victory, but a late defensive lapse allowed Magesi to pull one back, costing the Buccaneers a clean sheet. That goal did not sit well with Ouaddou. "Like I told you, the only bad point is this goal that we conceded, and I'm very frustrated," he said. "I'm not happy about this goal because I wanted to keep this clean sheet." Ouaddou made it clear that his expectations go beyond winning. He demanded sharper finishing and stronger discipline in key moments. "As a coach, I want to attract the attention of my players that football is scoring goals, and when you have the possibilities to score, score. At the end of the league, every goal is important," he said. "Don't joke, we are not here to joke. We are here to perform. We are here to give results." The coach's tone hardened as he spoke about the team's drop in intensity during the closing stages. "My big disappointment is the last 15 minutes," he said. "If we want to be more ambitious, we have to stop this nonsense of playing sterile possession and enjoying small passes. If we want to do that, we can go to the circus. I'm not here to go to the circus. I'm here to improve my players and go forward." Ouaddou's words revealed his firm stance on professionalism and purpose. For him, entertainment must not come at the expense of efficiency. "I respect the local culture and traditions," he explained. "I'm coming to a fantastic country that loves football. South Africa is a land of football, but we have to find the right balance between doing our job and scoring goals." He warned that while flair and showmanship are appreciated in cup games, the same attitude can hurt the team in the league. "In the league, every goal matters, especially at the end," he said. "You can make 20 or 30 passes to make the show, I'm happy for that, but finish the action. Staying in one place making 30 passes in five square metres is not interesting." Ouaddou's message was clear. Orlando Pirates must balance creativity with purpose if they hope to compete for major trophies. His focus now turns to the Carling Knockout semi-finals, where discipline, efficiency, and consistency will define whether the Buccaneers can turn potential into silverware.