Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou emphasises smart tactics for MTN8 clash

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is preaching “clever and smart” as the main motto to approach their MTN8 two-legged semi-final against Sekhukhune United.

The first leg will be played on the small pitch at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday at 3 pm.

“We want to go there and get a result, with a lot of ambition, but at the same time it is a game that you have to play very cleverly. When you play two games like that, you need to be very smart,” said Ouaddou.

@iol.sport

Newcastle United expected to struggle like Spurs last season End of an Era: Newcastle United and Spurs could be trading places this season, with the Magpies’ sale of their biggest players surely a recipe for disaster. Spurs, meanwhile, have been praised for their transfer business that will have their fans dreaming of a return to the Big Six in no time. 📸 Rowan Callaghan/IOL

♬ original sound – IOL Sport

The treble-winning Moroccan continued: “It’s really a pleasure to play in this competition. Everybody is taking it seriously. It builds consistency early in the season. The beauty of this cup is, usually, we call it the Super Cup where the champion of the league plays the champion of the national cup in every other country.

“In South Africa, though, it’s the top eight teams that fight. We put our title on the line again for eight teams. I think it is fantastic.”

Ouaddou is correct, for indeed it is Pirates who have to put their title on the table for a fifth time in a row, as they have won it consecutively since 2022.

Again, the ability to adjust will be tested for the Buccaneers side that is heavily invested in defending the domestic league title and chasing a second continental star in the CAF Champions League.

@iol.sport Traded uniform for boots! SA Navy powerhouse Antonia Maponya chose military grit in 2022, conquered HR, and rebounded to dominate the pitch for Banyana Banyana on the big stage. #BanyanaBanyana #AntoniaMaponya #SANavy #WAFCON ♬ original sound – IOL Sport

And so the small-pitched Old Peter Mokaba Stadium becomes another factor to manage smartly and cleverly.

“Again, it is not easy since we are playing the first game away against a very good side, against Sekhukhune,” said Ouaddou.

“We know it is going to be difficult, especially on the small pitch, but yes, for us, definitely we want to keep this title. We know that we have two games. We just want now to focus on the MTN8 (first leg) and we know we have time to focus on the league. Step-by-step.”