Latest news with #AbdeslamOuaddou
The South African
an hour ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates news: Ouaddou wants more exits
Orlando Pirates are not done trimming their squad ahead of the new season. According to the latest transfer update, head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou wants to work with a smaller squad for the upcoming season. In light of their new coach's decision, five more players have been linked with the exit door at the club! READ MORE • Mamelodi Sundowns star set for European switch! READ MORE • R20 million Mamelodi Sundowns star wanted by Siwelele FC! The Buccaneers have already said their goodbyes to a host of first team players. And new reports suggest it doesn't end there! 'new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is believed to be finalising his squad for the first half of the new to Siya sources,' a Soccer Laduma report read. 'Ouaddou is not expected to work with more than 35 players in his squad as he looks to implement a more focused and competitive environment at the club.' The publication further claims that Orlando Pirates could either release or loan the following players out. Ayanda Zulu Gilberto Siphelo Baloni Selaelo Rasebotja Katlego Otladisa READ MORE • How much Pirates paid for Oswin Appollis! Considering all of the changes at Orlando Pirates, where do you think they'll finish on the Betway Premiership log standings? Can they lift the title? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@ or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @ TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
The South African
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates: R100 million up for grabs this season
Orlando Pirates could earn up to R100 million if they manage to win every competition they participate in this upcoming season. While such a feat may seem unlikely, it is certainly possible, especially considering how close they were to achieving a treble last season. The Buccaneers secured nearly R50 million by winning the MTN8 and reaching the final of the Nedbank Cup. They also finished as runners-up in the league and reached the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League. A new season offers the team another opportunity to compete for both the Betway Premiership and the Champions League. If the Buccaneers win both the league and the CAF Champions League, they would have accumulated R90 million. The MTN8 title adds another R10 million, while winning the Carling Knockout and the Nedbank Cup could net them approximately R15 million more. To achieve a continental treble and earn R100 million this season, the team will need to have their best season ever, with no room for error, poor finishing, or careless defence. With Abdeslam Ouaddou at the helm, some fans are concerned about whether he can uphold the winning culture. Under Jose Riveiro, Orlando Pirates won five out of six finals and secured R100 million over three years. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Exclusive: Edward Motale tips Pirates to finally end Mamelodi Sundowns' PSL dominance
COACH Abdeslam Ouaddou;s experience of playing in top leagues is expected to help him at Orlando Pirates. | Orlando Pirates Image: OP/Facebook ORLANDO Pirates legend Edward Motale is confident that the Soweto giants have done enough in the current transfer window to not only mount a serious challenge against Mamelodi Sundowns, but to bring an end to the Pretoria-based side's dominant reign at the top of South African football. The Buccaneers have not lifted the league title since the 2011/12 season, but after pushing closer to the top during the previous campaign than they have in recent years – even though they ultimately finished 13 points behind champions Sundowns – there's a renewed sense of optimism in Orlando. A large part of that comes from their activity in the market, with several new signings boosting hopes that they can go all the way this time. Pirates will also head into the new campaign under new leadership following the departure of head coach Jose Riveiro to Egyptian giants Al Ahly at the end of last season. Moroccan tactician Abdeslam Ouaddou has already taken over, and he has inherited a team that reached the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League and also played in the Nedbank Cup final. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Despite missing out on silverware in the final stretch – with only the MTN8 trophy to show for their efforts – the team showed significant progress, and expectations are once again high for the upcoming season. Motale, a former Bucs defender who played a key role in the club's historic 1995 CAF Champions League-winning side, believes that Pirates have what it takes to not only compete with Sundowns but to finally surpass them. 'The club knows where they went wrong last season,' Motale told Independent Newspapers. 'Before the coach left, he even admitted that they were too confident in certain matches and dropped points against so-called smaller teams – that's where they lost the title. 'The fact that they've already acknowledged what cost them shows a team that's learning and growing. That gives me the belief that this season they won't just be challengers – they will go all the way and win the league.' The Sea Robbers recently concluded a pre-season tour in Spain, which gave new coach Ouaddou a valuable opportunity to assess his squad in competitive conditions. The trip also allowed him to experiment with combinations and get a clearer picture of the team's depth heading into what could be a demanding campaign. Motale praised the value of the tour, saying it gave many players a chance to prove themselves while also helping the coaching staff make informed decisions ahead of their MTN8 title defence. 'I saw the last two matches of the tour,' Motale continued. 'You can't judge too much from only a few games, but it was important for every player to get game time. 'It was also an opportunity for the coach to see who fits where, to try out combinations. 'I don't think he'll struggle with a large squad. In fact, I suspect that even in those four matches, he has already figured out a few preferred combinations and maybe even his best starting eleven. 'He played at the highest level, and when someone has that kind of experience, it doesn't take long to spot your top players. He'll know who to go with.' The Buccaneers will kick off the defence of their MTN8 title against Polokwane City on August 2 at the Orlando Stadium, with the league season set to begin soon after.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Orlando Pirates must go all in to end Mamelodi Sundowns' reign
New Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou faces the challenge of building on Jose Riveiro's foundation while plotting to dethrone serial champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Second place surely cannot be good enough this time around for Orlando Pirates. Bridesmaids to Mamelodi Sundowns in the league for the past two seasons, the Buccaneers must be hell-bent on usurping the Brazilians in the upcoming campaign. They showed last season that they can run Sundowns close, having significantly narrowed the points gap compared to the season before. The big question, though, is whether the change of coach will have a positive or negative effect on Pirates' ambitions. Jose Riveiro managed to give Sundowns a run for their money because he had been at the club for three seasons and had already established a winning formula and built a trusted team that he stuck with. That continuity could well be affected this time around, with new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou likely to want to build his own team. But why fix it if it isn't broken, right? Logic would suggest that the Moroccan should carry on where the Spaniard left off if Pirates are to remain competitive and continue to be the side most likely to hassle Sundowns for the Betway Premiership title. Coaches are different, though, and while Ouaddou will no doubt want to build on the solid foundation Riveiro left behind before moving to Al Ahly in Egypt, he will also be keen to put his personal stamp on the team. He will be helped in that regard by the fact that the club have made some significant signings, bringing in big-name players who were surely not bought to warm the bench. During the club's pre-season tour of Spain, he gave some of those players a run, and one thing is now certain: unlike under Riveiro, the Pirates starting line-up will no longer be predictable. How could it be, when Ouaddou has, for example, a myriad of superb central midfielders to choose from? The arrivals of Sipho Mbule, Msindi Nemtajela, Sihle Nduli, Tshepang Moremi, Tshepo Mashiloane and Oswin Appollis mean the battle for starting berths will be intensely competitive — and that can only drive performance levels higher across the squad. What will excite Ouaddou even more is the versatility of some of these new players — including Sinoxolo Kwayiba and Nksokhona Ndaba — which will offer him numerous tactical options. That Pirates have gone so big in the transfer market — even as they've released several players — is a clear signal that they have taken note of Sundowns' winning model. The Brazilians' dominance is built on the ability to field different starting line-ups while maintaining high performance. Their bench is stacked with quality, and in-game changes rarely weaken the team. This was not the case for Pirates in recent campaigns, but now it appears they finally have the depth to compete from the bench. They impressed on the continent last season, reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League with a limited squad, having also won the MTN8 and reached the Nedbank Cup final. Their pedigree in knockout competitions is without question. But their biggest challenge this coming season must be in the league, where they have not tasted success since the 2011/12 season. Stopping Sundowns from winning a ninth successive title has to be their top priority — and the signs suggest they have assembled a squad capable of doing just that. But can they?
The South African
2 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates news: Mofokeng price tag, MTN8 fitness doubts
Orlando Pirates may be counting the cost of their European pre-season. Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has hinted that several players are carrying knocks, just weeks out from the MTN8 Cup. Although he didn't reveal names, Ouaddou's vague injury update has sparked concern. 'The game is played by young men,' he told local media. 'Swelling and niggles are normal.' The injuries could prove disruptive, with Pirates set to face Polokwane City in the tournament's quarter-finals. The match will also be a test for new signings like Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi, should they be fit to feature. The bigger distraction, however, remains the future of Relebohile Mofokeng. PSV are the latest club pushing hard to sign the Orlando Pirates wonderkid. And the numbers being discussed are staggering. 'The R100 million talk is misleading,' a source said. 'It was initially R120 million.' That hasn't stopped interest, nor has it silenced Mofokeng's father. Sechaba Mofokeng made it clear he doesn't want his son playing in South Africa next season. 'Spain, England, Netherlands — Rele can play anywhere. But not Saudi Arabia. He needs to experience UEFA football,' he said. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
