Abdeslam Ouaddou vows Orlando Pirates will beat the slump | OneFootball

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Ouaddou adamant Pirates will bounce back

Photo: X/@ IDiski Times

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has vowed that his team will bounce back from the string of poor results in their first two Betway Premiership matches, amid ongoing discontent among the club’s supporters.

While his tenure took off with an MTN8 quarterfinal win over Polokwane City, the Moroccan mentor is under pressure following the Buccaneers’ back-to-back defeats to Sekhukhune United and Marumo Gallants in the league.

The successive defeats put Pirates on the back foot as they aim to challenge and topple the rampant Mamelodi Sundowns for the league title. Ouaddou’s charges are currently in an unfamiliar territory as they are in 14th place on the log standings.

However, despite the precarious situation, the 46-year-old tactician is adamant his troops can turn things around and stage a respectable showing in the 2025/26 campaign. Moreover, the former Gallants boss claims he understands the supporters’ frustration.

“I can understand our fans; they love the club everywhere in the country and in the continent. They are passionate people, they are the 12th man, so in every big club in Africa, of course if you start in that way, we can understand the disappointment,” said Ouaddou.

“But what we can promise them is that we are going to bounce back and we are going to sweat on our shirt to try to represent the badge very well in the right way in order to bring them happiness – it’s only the beginning.

Pirates will be determined to get back to winning ways when they host Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final at a sold-out Orlando Stadium on Saturday. The Sea Robbers head into the clash as defending champions.

Spanish coach Jose Riveiro guided the club to three successive MTN8 titles during his three-year stint at the helm, which includes two Nedbank Cup trophies. Ouaddou will be keen to maintain the club’s nickname of modern day ‘Cup Kings’ ahead of the showdown in Soweto.