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IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Orlando Pirates' Abdeslam Ouaddou lauds new forward's performance after pre-season tour
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou (pictured) praised forward Yanela Mbuthuma's performance in their 2-0 pre-season victory over Granada, highlighting his effective pressing and the team's progress under Ouaddou's new defensive strategy. Picture: Alche Greef/BackpagePix Ouaddou spoke specifically about the 23-year-old Mbuthuma after the win over Granada. It was perhaps the best result of the pre-season tour as they lost 2-0 to Bolton, drew 1-1 with Pafos and ended in a goalless draw against Los Palmas before their final fixture. Pirates concluded their run of four matches with a 2-0 win over La Liga outfit Granada over the weekend. As Orlando Pirates wrapped up their pre-season tour, Bucs coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has been glowing in his assessment of forward Yanela Mbuthuma . Ouaddou's Defensive Strategy and Team Progress '[Pressing is] one of the instructions of the defensive formation when we are defending,' Ouaddou told SuperSport TV. 'He (Mbuthuma) did a great job in terms of pressing, that is what we asked him. His job was to stop the relationship between the central defender and the goalkeeper. 'And to push the opponent to make mistakes because we wanted to recover the ball on the sides. We did very well in the first half. But afterwards, when we recovered the ball, the plan was to open wide and to find free space in order to create chances.' With Ouaddou taking the reins ahead of the new season, there were indeed some encouraging signs. 'I think we achieved that, we had many chances, now we have to improve in the box, to be more clinical, and we can win the game. 'We can see that the team, step by step, is starting to understand a bit better exactly the expectation of the coach. So I am happy.' @Michael_Sherman IOL Sport
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Orlando Pirates' Abdeslam Ouaddou lauds new forward's performance after pre-season tour
Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou (pictured) praised forward Yanela Mbuthuma's performance in their 2-0 pre-season victory over Granada, highlighting his effective pressing and the team's progress under Ouaddou's new defensive strategy. Picture: Alche Greef/BackpagePix Ouaddou spoke specifically about the 23-year-old Mbuthuma after the win over Granada. It was perhaps the best result of the pre-season tour as they lost 2-0 to Bolton, drew 1-1 with Pafos and ended in a goalless draw against Los Palmas before their final fixture. Pirates concluded their run of four matches with a 2-0 win over La Liga outfit Granada over the weekend. As Orlando Pirates wrapped up their pre-season tour, Bucs coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has been glowing in his assessment of forward Yanela Mbuthuma . Ouaddou's Defensive Strategy and Team Progress '[Pressing is] one of the instructions of the defensive formation when we are defending,' Ouaddou told SuperSport TV. 'He (Mbuthuma) did a great job in terms of pressing, that is what we asked him. His job was to stop the relationship between the central defender and the goalkeeper. 'And to push the opponent to make mistakes because we wanted to recover the ball on the sides. We did very well in the first half. But afterwards, when we recovered the ball, the plan was to open wide and to find free space in order to create chances.' With Ouaddou taking the reins ahead of the new season, there were indeed some encouraging signs. 'I think we achieved that, we had many chances, now we have to improve in the box, to be more clinical, and we can win the game. 'We can see that the team, step by step, is starting to understand a bit better exactly the expectation of the coach. So I am happy.' @Michael_Sherman IOL Sport
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Orlando Pirates end Spanish tour on a high as Ouaddou's vision takes shape
Orlando Pirates celebrated a successful end to their Spanish tour with a 2-0 win over Granada, signalling early progress under new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix COMMENT Orlando Pirates wrapped up their Spanish pre-season tour with a 2-0 win over La Liga side Granada — a result that not only boosted morale but gave head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou a clearer picture of his squad's capabilities heading into the 2025/26 season. Across four matches played at the Marbella Football Centre, the Buccaneers showed flashes of tactical maturity and individual brilliance. While the early stages of the tour were shaky — marked by a 2-0 loss to Bolton Wanderers and a 1-1 draw with Cypriot club Pafos — there was evident improvement as the team held Las Palmas to a goalless draw before closing out with a deserved win over Granada. But it wasn't just about results. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The Spanish leg of pre-season provided a vital window for Ouaddou to bed in new ideas and assess the impact of fresh arrivals. Among the standout performers were new signings Sipho Mbule and Sihle Nduli, who both looked comfortable in the Pirates midfield. Mbule, calm and composed in possession, linked well with Thalente Mbatha in the centre of the park, giving Pirates a much-needed sense of control. Nduli, meanwhile, added bite and balance — his energy and ball recovery stood out, particularly against technically sound opposition. Their partnership added a new dimension to a midfield that often looked too one-paced last season. The ability to dictate tempo and absorb pressure became a recurring theme in the latter stages of the tour — a sign that Ouaddou's methods are beginning to take root. In attack, Relebohile Mofokeng once again showed why he remains one of the most exciting young players in the country. Confident, tricky and decisive in transition, he was involved in nearly everything Pirates created going forward. Yet his brilliance also highlighted the team's most pressing concern — finishing. Slowly our coach is getting it right, we just need to fix our CB but future looks good. If Mofokeng never gets to wear the no 10 jersey then Dr Khoza n Sono shud just permanently retire that number n let new players create their own legacy with new numbers going forward. — Khulu Khumalo (@devikhumalo) July 19, 2025 The Soweto giants struggled to convert chances throughout the tour, an issue that persisted even in their final win. Resolving that clinical edge will no doubt be a top priority as the domestic season approaches. Defensively, the Buccaneers tightened up as the games progressed. They conceded just three goals in four matches and finished with back-to-back clean sheets. Communication and structure improved notably, and while not yet perfect, the backline looked far more assured than at the start of the tour. Another major positive for Ouaddou will be the growing chemistry within the squad. Despite a demanding training load and mixed results, the players appeared more unified with each passing game. There was intent, belief and an increasing understanding of the tactical framework being laid out. Now, with Spain in the rear-view mirror, attention turns to the domestic campaign. Pirates begin their competitive season by defending their MTN8 crown in a quarter-final clash against Polokwane City at home. Ouaddou's project is still in its infancy, but the early signs from Spain suggest the Buccaneers may well be heading in the right direction — one well-drilled pass at a time.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Ouaddou hopes Spain victory will boost Pirates confidence
'I think it is good because it helps the guys in terms of confidence to end with a victory," said Ouaddou. Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says the Buccaneers are keen to play at home in front of their supporters after victory in Spain on Saturday. This comes after Pirates ended their preseason tour of Spain with a 2-0 win over Granada at the Marbella Sport Centre. READ MORE: Pirates end Spanish tour with victory over Granada Goals in the second half from Patrick Maswanganyi and Relebohile Mofokeng gave the Buccaneers their first victory in their preseason camp in Spain. Pirates had lost 2-0 to Bolton Wanderers in their first game in Spain and that loss was followed by draws against Pafos FC and Las Palmas. Ouaddou says despite their failure to win their previous matches, he always knew that the Buccaneers would turn things around. 'I had all the time the trust from my players and we tried with my staff to give them confidence, to play, to train well, to give efforts and to stay united. And step by step, we finished this camp with a victory,' Ouaddou told Pirates media. Pirates confident ahead of City clash Ouaddou added that their victory against Granada would give his players confidence ahead of the MTN8 quarter final clash against Polokwane City at home at Orlando Stadium on 2 August. 'I think it is good because it helps the guys in terms of confidence to end with a victory. 'For me, I was not worried because of what we have seen since the beginning here in terms of training, in terms of football and the aim to go forward to create the chances we had. 'We are going to give some rest to the players, but we are very impatient to go back to Johannesburg to play in front of our fans who are waiting for us. They want to see this new team. They want to see them play, and we can't wait to see them and play in front of them,' said Ouaddou. Meanwhile, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has released the provisional fixtures for the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. ALSO READ: Sundowns' Ribeiro wins Club World Cup goal of the tournament Pirates are set to kick off the 2025/26 season against Sekhukhune United at home on 9 August. They will then meet Marumo Gallants away 12 August before they host Stellenbosch FC on 19 August. A week later they will play newly-promoted Orbit College at Orlando Stadium. Pirates will finish the month of August with a clash against Chippa United at Buffalo City Stadium. Pirates first five fixtures*: 9 August: Sekhukhune United (H) 12 August: Marumo Gallants (A) 20 August: Stellenbosch FC (H) 26 August: Orbit College (H) 31 August: Chippa United (A) *These are provisional fixtures and are subject to change
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Victorious Orlando Pirates' dynamics shocked former LaLiga pro in their pre-season finale
Orlando Pirates teenager Mbekezeli Mbokazi was impressive in his side's 2-0 win over Granada on Saturday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Orlando Pirates clinched a well-deserved 2-0 victory against Granada on Saturday at the Marbella Football Centre to end their pre-season tour of Spain on a high note. The result marked a significant morale boost for the Soweto giants, who had endured a string of challenging fixtures during their training stint abroad. After four games, Pirates secured their first tour win. Granada's head coach, José Rojo Martín – a former LaLiga professional – expressed admiration for Pirates' tactics. As part of his preparation for the match, he had reviewed footage of their goalless draw against Las Palmas last Thursday. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Speaking to SuperSport TV, a translator for Martín relayed the coach's surprise at the intensity and dynamics displayed by Orlando Pirates. 'He was quite shocked by the dynamic of the team, the intensity, and the quantity of the players,' he noted, adding: 'He has done the research and watched the match against Las Palmas.' The match against Granada began tentatively, with both sides feeling each other out during a stop-start opening quarter. Pirates created their first real chance in the 24th minute, though Mbekezeli Mbokazi's effort drifted wide. Mbokazi, surprisingly deployed at left-back, later found himself in several attacking roles but struggled to convert his opportunities. As the first half progressed, the Buccaneers began to find their rhythm. Boitumelo Radiopane came close to breaking the deadlock, but his header lacked the power to beat Granada goalkeeper Luca Zidane. Still, Pirates showcased their attacking intent, frequently surging forward with purpose. After a nervy first half, Pirates returned with renewed determination. Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine kept them in the contest with a string of crucial saves as Granada pressed forward. Persistence eventually paid off in the 82nd minute when Patrick Maswanganyi, well positioned inside the box, calmly slotted the ball into the net to hand Pirates the lead. The goal injected fresh energy into the side, and Relebohile Mofokeng soon doubled the advantage. After slipping past the final defender, he calmly finished into an open net to secure a deserved win. The result concluded Pirates' Spanish training camp on a high, leaving them unbeaten in their final three pre-season matches. As they return to South Africa to prepare for the 2025/26 season — starting with their MTN8 title defence against Polokwane City — their performances in Spain reflect a promising synergy that supporters hope will carry into the domestic campaign.
