
Orlando Pirates news: Ouaddou opens up on Mofokeng exit talks
Pirates superstar Relebohile Mofokeng has strongly been linked with a sensational exit from the club during the ongoing transfer window.
And now, the coach has broken his silence on these reports.
READ MORE • Kaizer Chiefs open talks with Sundowns superstar!
Will Orlando Pirates sell Relebohile Mofokeng? That seems to be the question on everyone's lips!
Head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has since addressed the speculation. Here's what he had to say…
'Well I read this news as well. With such a talented player, of course it attracts a lot of clubs. But I trust my board and I trust the club, because he's definitely one of our major players this season,' Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou told IDiski Times .
'We need him, to compete in the highest level. We need these kinds of players in our team. As a coach I'm still confident we can keep him but you never know in football what can happen.
'But right now I'm confident, since I have not received any information that he will be leaving but definitely… I hope he will stay with us, but we will see.'
READ MORE • Orlando Pirates reach agreement to sell superstar for R31 million!
Can Orlando Pirates afford to lose Relebohile Mofokeng at this stage? Or should they hold onto him for at least one more season?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. You can also follow @ TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.

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IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Ouaddou calls for quick recovery after Orlando Pirates' defeat in their Betway Premiership opener
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is determined to see his side respond positively when they face Marumo Gallants on Tuesday. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media Orlando Pirates' coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has stressed that it will be crucial for the team to bounce back from their defeat in the first game of the Betway Premiership season. Sekhukhune United handed Pirates a sour start to the league, beating them 1-0 away at Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Siphesihle Mkhize scored Sekhukhune's solitary goal early in the second half, burying home a rebound following a scramble inside Pirates' box. That win ensured that Babina Noko showed early signs of living up to their 'dark horses' tag this season, while the loss put Pirates' plans into jeopardy from the outset. Pirates are expected to challenge for — and win — the Premiership this season, as the club have invested heavily in preparations and squad strengthening. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Ouaddou conceded that they had a poor day at the office, although he insisted not all is lost, as the league is not won overnight. 'The chance that we have in football is to play again quickly and aim for victory in the next game,' Ouaddou stated during his post-match press conference in Orlando. 'The league is a marathon; many games remain to be played. We started badly, but we'll get some rest and quickly get back to business.' Pirates' loss to Babina Noko saw them fail to capitalise on Mamelodi Sundowns' slip earlier in the day, as the defending champions drew 1-1 with Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Ouaddou took a different perspective on the defeat, crediting the league for becoming increasingly competitive. Pirates Defeated in League Season Opener ⚫⚪🔴⭐#OrlandoPirates#OnceAlways — Orlando Pirates (@orlandopirates) August 9, 2025 'This result means that every season the league is getting better and tougher,' he reasoned. 'The teams are preparing and organising themselves well. My analysis of the result is that there are no more small teams in the league.' Pirates looked well-prepared and ready to compete across competitions when they brushed aside Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarter-final at Orlando a fortnight ago. The new signings — including Sipho Mbule, Sihle Nduli, and Oswin Appollis — hardly looked out of place in that game, driving Pirates en route to the semi-final. Ouaddou still believes in the players at his disposal and in the team's set-up, but acknowledges there is ample room for improvement going forward. Bradley Grobler drives Sekhukhune United forward against Orlando Pirates on Saturday night. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media 'It doesn't give me a different picture of my team or my boys. We have quality, but there's a lot of work to do, especially when you have many new players,' said Ouaddou. 'Of course, there's still a lot of work to be done. I still believe in the players we have — there's quality within the team. It's only the beginning of the season, so we'll regroup and bounce back.' Ouaddou added that they must quickly get their league campaign up and running, especially with the quick turnaround of matches in the coming weeks. 'It's part of football. We knew that we might have some close games in the schedule from the start of the season,' he explained. 'We need to assess player availability. We have many players, so rotation will be important when you have that many games in a short space of time.' Pirates' next match will be away to Marumo Gallants at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday night (7.30pm kick-off). The clash will mark a homecoming for Ouaddou, who began his PSL coaching career at Gallants last season. The 46-year-old is not making the game about himself, but rather about the team's need to secure three points against a side that won their opening fixture of the season. 'I have seen their result, so congratulations to them. But it's not only important for me — it's important for our team to go there and get the result,' Ouaddou said. 'When you lose the first game at home, you definitely need to get points away to stay in the title race.'


The Citizen
7 hours ago
- The Citizen
Pirates' Ouaddou explains Mabasa absence
'He is ready and when we call him, I think he will be able to perform,' said the Pirates head coach. Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says Tshegofatso Mabasa is fully fit despite leaving the striker out of his squad for the Buccaneers' first two games of the season. ALSO READ: Pirates' Ouaddou – 'We were dominant' Mabasa scored 15 goals in all competitions for Pirates last season, but did not feature in either the 2-0 MTN8 quarterfinal win over Polokwane City or Saturday's shock 1-0 loss at home to Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership. Pirates strikers out in the cold? Another experienced Pirates striker, Evidence Makgopa, has also not played yet though he was on the bench for the Sekhukhune match. The new Pirates coach has instead preferred young forward Boitumelo Radiopane in attack. Radiopane only managed one goal last season for Pirates and has not found the net in either of Pirates' first two games this time around. 'Mabasa is available, it is a choice that we made. But he is ready and when we call him, I think he will be able to perform and give us the best of him,' said Ouaddou, after Siphesihle Mkhize's goal gave Sekhukhune a second league win this year at Orlando Stadium. 'You can maybe ask questions because the strikers we used didn't score. But we have a lot of players this season and everyone will get their chance at the right moment.' The result against Sekhukhune was an early setback for Ouaddou and his side. Pirates, who won their first seven games of last season, need to find a solution quickly. They visit Ouaddou's former club Marumo Gallants in their next Premiership match on Tuesday. 'The league is long' Gallants started their season with a 2-1 win at Richards Bay on Saturday. ALSO READ: Sekhukhune raid Orlando again to stun Pirates 'I said to the boys (after the game) that there is a lot of disappointment, but there is a chance … to play again quickly and to go and win the next game. The league is still long. It was a bad start but we must get some rest and … come back.'

IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou explains why Tshegofatso Mabasa missed league opener
Left out Orlando Pirates' top goalscorer for the last two seasons, Tshegofatso Mabasa, was absent from the squad in their league loss to Sekhukhune United on Saturday. Photo: BackpagePix Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has revealed the reason why Tshegofatso Mabasa was absent from their Betway Premiership opener against Sekhukhune United. Without their top goalscorer for the last two seasons, Pirates struggled in the game played at Orlando Stadium on Saturday evening. Despite creating more goalscoring opportunities and dominating for large portions, they were ultimately beaten 1-0. Immediately after the game, there was talk about Mabasa's omission. It was the second game in a row that the 28-year-old had been left out of the squad completely. Speaking after the game, Ouaddou said that Mabasa was available, but they made a choice to start with 22-year-old Boitumelo Radiopane, with 23-year-old Yanela Mbuthuma playing off the bench.