New Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou and recent signing Sipho Mbule will have a point to prove when the new season gets underway.
The Soweto giants surprised their fans earlier this week when they appointed Ouaddou as Jose Riveiro’s successor. Having been linked with the likes of Rulani Mokwena and Pitso Mosimane since Riveiro left, Ouaddou’s appointment came out of the blue.
And, due to his underwhelming CV, many fans doubt he can take the club to the next level and mount a serious title challenge.
A day after Ouaddou was announced as the new head coach, the club closed the deal to sign troubled midfielder Sipho Mbule on a free transfer. The 27-year-old had recently been released by Mamelodi Sundowns after his loan spell at Sekhukhune United was cut short.
Mbule has a long list of disciplinary issues, so the move has been seen as a major gamble by the club’s fans.
However, it turns out Ouaddou is a big fan and said in a recent interview with Robert Marawa that he’d love to work with him, despite his well-documented indiscretions.
“…I love him, his style of play,” Ouaddou said when speaking to Marawa on 947’s MSW. “And I know that maybe his behaviour is not so good, but I think it’s a question of management. These players need management, somebody to be close to them.
“To make them understand that they are good players, but they have to manage their lifestyle – it’s Mbule. [He] is a fantastic player; it’s the kind of player I’d like to have in my team.”
Ouaddou’s comments sound like he’s the kind of coach Mbule needs in his corner to turn his career around. And if Mbule can pay him back for the belief he has in him, Pirates could have a very good player on their hands.
If Ouaddou can get Mbule firing and the team believing in his vision, the new season could mark the start of an unexpected resurgence for Orlando Pirates. With doubters on the outside and pressure mounting from within, both coach and player have the perfect opportunity to silence critics and script a redemption story worthy of the club’s proud legacy.
All eyes will be on Pirates – because if this gamble pays off, it might just be the masterstroke that changes everything. If it doesn’t, the knives will be out and both of them will be in for a rough time.
IOL Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).
