Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says he has learnt from last season’s early struggles and is taking a more patient approach with his new signings as the club begins another demanding campaign.
The Buccaneers strengthened their squad significantly during the off-season, bringing in no fewer than nine new players as they prepare to compete across domestic competitions and the CAF Champions League.
Four of those new arrivals made their official debuts in Saturday’s victory over newly promoted Milford FC, with the players introduced in the second half as Pirates looked to secure maximum points on the opening day of the Betway Premiership season.
The approach marks a change from last season, when Ouaddou was quick to integrate new players into his starting line-up after taking over from Jose Riveiro.
That resulted in a difficult start, with Pirates suffering back-to-back defeats in their opening two league matches as pressure immediately mounted on the new head coach.
This time around, the Moroccan tactician has opted for greater stability while allowing new arrivals time to adapt to the demands of the club.
“The new players, you know, even for me, I take lessons; it’s never late to learn,” Ouaddou said.
“Last season, you can say that I wanted to be in a rush to put new players in the starting XI, and this season I started with more stability in the XI.”
Ouaddou believes the gradual introduction of the new players will allow them to make a bigger impact as the season progresses.
“The new players, we will bring them in after – so I think they bring something, you have seen that in the second half, they bring more energy, more control in the game,” he added.
“I think it’s good news for us, for Orlando Pirates, to know these players can help us. But I’m sure in the season, we will see them more and more.”
The victory over Milford provided Pirates with the perfect start to their title defence, but Ouaddou will know the challenges ahead will increase significantly.
The Buccaneers now turn their attention to the MTN8, where they will begin the defence of their title against Durban City on 8 August at the Orlando Amstel Arena.
Pirates have won the competition in each of the last four seasons and will be aiming to extend their dominance in the tournament while also balancing their ambitions in the Betway Premiership, CAF Champions League and other cup competitions.
