Pirates ‘threw' three points away against Gallants, says Nduli
Orlando Pirates midfielder Sihle Nduli says the Buccaneers 'threw the game away' against Marumo Gallants.
This comes after the Buccaneers suffered a 2-1 loss to Bahlabane Ba Ntwa in a Betway Premiership clash played at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
ALSO READ: 'Take Mofokeng out of Pirates and they'll struggle,' – Sundowns' Cardoso
It was Pirates' second defeat in as many games after they lost 1-0 to Sekhukhune United in their opening match of the season.
Nduli, who partnered Abdoulaye Mariko in the middle of the park for Pirates, believes that with the chances they created, they should have easily won the game.
'I think we started the game well and created a lot of chances, but we only managed to score one. With the chances we created, the game should have been done and dusted in the first half. We threw away the three points. We conceded silly goals,' said Nduli.
Ouaddou under pressure at Pirates
Pirates' sluggish start to the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season has brought an early pressure to new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.
Pirates next face Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinals at home at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday and another loss in this encounter could put more pressure on him or worse, he could be shown the exit door.
The Moroccan, who replaced Jose Riveiro at the end of last season, was at a loss for words to explain how Pirates, who dominated the game against Gallants from start to finish, lost it.
'We started the game very well, opening the score and creating a lot of chances again that we didn't put in the net and like I said when you don't score, you give the opponents an opportunity to finish you,' said Ouaddou after the game.
Ouaddou added that he and his technical team will go back to the drawing board and analyse what went wrong in Bloemfontein and try to fix it.
READ MORE: Ouaddou 'disappointed' after Pirates loss to Gallants
'We are going to analyse the game and to see what's going wrong especially in the second half. We tried to make some changes to bring some fresh blood, Unfortunately, the changes we made didn't give what we expect from them, their level.'
Meanwhile, Pirates will play Lioli FC of Lesotho in the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
The preliminary round kicks off with first-leg matches between 19–21 September 2025 and second-leg matches between 26–28 September 2025. Pirates are away in Lesotho in the first leg.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
We love him: Pirates coach Ouaddou supports under-fire Mashiloane
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has come out strongly in support of defender Tshepo Mashiloane, who has come in for stinging criticism for his below-par performances in league defeats to Sekhukhune United and Marumo Gallants. Mashiloane, 23, was not at his best when Pirates suffered back-to-back defeats to United and Gallants this week — and that left the Buccaneers third from the bottom on the Betway Premiership with no points to show. It will be unfair to put the two defeats solely on the shoulders of the under-fire right because Pirates has failed to click under Ouaddou, who has made changes to the starting line-up. 'It is to simply continue giving him some love and also to all my players, like I always do because it's important,' said Ouaddou as Pirates prepared to take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semifinal first leg at Orlando Stadium on Saturday. "We love him," - Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou offers support for defender Tshepo Mashiloane. WATCH full press conference ➡️➡️➡️ — Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 14, 2025 'He is an important player for the club and we will keep on believing in him. He is a young and a good player but he also needs to improve. But we love him.' Ouaddou started his tenure at Pirates by giving opportunities to new players like Mashiloane, Sihle Ntuli, Sipho Mbule, Abdoulaye Mariko, Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi and Boitumelo Radiopane. Supporters have asked why he has discarded tried and tested campaigners like Deano van Rooyen, Thalente Mbatha, Tshegofatsho Mabasa and Evidence Makgopa but he says their opportunities will come. 'All the players are important but every season is different with new players and coaches. When you have such a number of players, they know where they put their feet. 'They [are] in one of the biggest clubs in Africa, so they know the expectations from the fans and everybody else. We are ready to help them reach their targets and improve themselves. 'It is what we are doing every day. Even in the difficult moments we are doing our best to improve them tactically, technically and mentally. 'I knew Mabasa before I came here. The time will come when he will give his best for the club.'
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Abdeslam Ouaddou: Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns are the biggest clubs in Africa
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou speaking during a press conference, Pirates will play against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinals at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday. Picture: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers As South African football enthusiasts gear up for a monumental encounter, Orlando Pirates will go head-to-head against their fierce rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final at the iconic Orlando Stadium tomorrow. With a full house expected, anticipation is building for what promises to be a riveting display of top-tier African football (kick-off 3pm). Speaking at the MTN8 press conference held at the Premier Soccer League headquarters in Parktown on yesterday, Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed his excitement and optimism regarding the upcoming match. 'It's an exciting moment for not only the players, but for the fans as well. It's a clash of the two biggest teams not only in South Africa, but on the continent," Ouaddou remarked, reflecting the immense stature both clubs hold in African football. "We're excited and happy to play the game on Saturday, and we hope to give a good show to all the supporters in South Africa."
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Coach Ouaddou, ahead of MTN8 clash: Pirates and Sundowns – the biggest clubs in Africa
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou speaking during a press conference, Pirates will play against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinals at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday. Picture: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers As South African football enthusiasts gear up for a monumental encounter, Orlando Pirates will go head-to-head against their fierce rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final at the iconic Orlando Stadium this Saturday With a full house expected, anticipation is building for what promises to be a riveting display of top-tier African football (kick-off 3pm). Speaking at the MTN8 press conference held at the PSL headquarters in Parktown on Thursday, Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou expressed his excitement and optimism regarding the upcoming match. 'It's an exciting moment for not only the players, but for the fans as well. It's a clash of the two biggest teams not only in South Africa, but on the continent. We're excited and happy to play the game on Saturday, and we hope to give a good show to all the supporters in South Africa,' Ouaddou remarked, reflecting the immense stature both clubs hold in African football. In the lead-up to this thrilling confrontation, Ouaddou addressed the current injury status of his squad. 'Most of the players are available, we only have [Nkosinathi] Sibisi, [Makhehleni] Makhaula, who are still recovering from their injuries,' he confirmed. 'We still have [Olisa] Ndah out, but most of the players are still available.' This clarity on the players' condition will undoubtedly provide a boost to the club and its loyal supporters as they plan their tactical approach against the reigning league champions. The semi-final clash is particularly significant for both teams, with the Pirates aiming to carve a path back to glory in the MTN8 competition. Mamelodi Sundowns, fresh off their league victory, will undoubtedly pose a formidable challenge, further intensifying the rivalry as the two giants of South African football meet once again. Both teams are likely to be firing on all cylinders to gain the advantage ahead of the second leg. Expect this encounter to deliver a match filled with high drama, skill, and passion, bringing together supporters from all walks of life under the banner of the beautiful game.
