Can Abdeslam Ouaddou trump Sundowns and make Orlando Pirates great again?
Is Abdeslam Ouaddou the right man for Pirates? Former Marumo Gallants head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was appointed as Jose Riveiro's successor at Orlando Pirates on Monday morning. Photo: Brian Riikhotso/BackpagePix
Image: Brian Riikhotso/BackpagePix
New Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, formerly of Marumo Gallants and DR Congo club AS Vita, must have had a brilliant interview to persuade the club to give him the opportunity to replace Jose Riveiro.
Pirates, who have been heavily linked with Rulani Mokwena, dropped a bombshell on Monday morning when they announced that former Morocco international Ouaddou would be taking over.
Ouaddou's appointment doesn't make sense. Under Riveiro, Pirates made a good push for the league title, and it was hoped that the next man in would be able to get them over the finish line. So, when they appointed a coach with very little pedigree, fans will be asking questions.
In March this year, Ouaddou was tasked with rescuing Marumo Gallants, who were battling against relegation. After a run of 12 games, he got the job done with four wins, four draws, and two defeats.
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His work with Gallants proved he can get results, but can he challenge the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns? In his five years as a head coach, Ouaddou has just one trophy – the Congolese Cup – to his name. To unseat Sundowns at the top of the table, the club might need someone with a bit more pedigree.
Last year, Ouaddou made headlines across South Africa when he announced his resignation as AS Vita head coach during the post-match press conference after going down to Stellenbosch FC in the CAF Confederation Cup.
His reasoning for quitting the team was valid. According to him, the club, supposedly one of the most supported on the continent, was not run very professionally. They trained on a different pitch every day, and for their clash against Stellenbosch, they only landed in Cape Town hours before the game due to visa issues.
In his previous two jobs, he's shown no sign that he is capable of guiding a team to a league title. Pirates have made a mistake with this one. Had they appointed Mokwena, they would have had a coach who knows how to win a league.
For a club of Pirates' stature, ambition matters as much as loyalty and potential. Ouaddou might turn out to be a smart long-term project, but right now, the Buccaneers don't need a rebuild – they need a ruthless title charge. If this gamble doesn't pay off quickly, it could set the club back just as Sundowns threaten to stretch even further out of reach.
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