Abdeslam Ouaddou talks about why he replaced Patrick Maswanganyi | OneFootball

The Moroccan coach talks about the reason behind replacing his distinguished midfield.

Abdeslam Ouaddou talks about why he replaced Patrick Maswanganyi

Orlando Pirates manager Abdeslam Ouaddou has moved to clarify his surprising decision to substitute midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi during the first half of his team's crucial MTN8 semi-final clash.

The match, played against rivals Mamelodi Sundowns at a charged Lucas Moripe Stadium, was ultimately decided from the penalty spot. After a 1-1 deadlock in regular time, the Buccaneers held their nerve to secure a 3-1 shootout victory and their place in the final.

The early momentum belonged to Sundowns, who broke the deadlock in the first half thanks to a well-taken goal from Iqraam Rayners. However, Orlando Pirates demonstrated their resilience after the break, finding a crucial equalizer through their versatile and in-form performer, Kamogelo Sebelebele. His influential performance throughout the match was later recognized with the Man of the Match award.

Ouaddou talks about the reason

A pivotal moment in the match occurred when coach Ouaddou made the decisive call to substitute Patrick Maswanganyi in the 38th minute, introducing Bandile Shandu in his place.

This tactical shift allowed for the repositioning of Kamogelo Sebelebele, who had begun the match as a right-back, to advance into the right wing role.

Addressing the surprising change post-match, the Moroccan mentor provided clear reasoning, stating, “You know I have been a player for 17 years at the high level. It can happen that sometimes you are not in the game, at your best.”

He was quick to emphasize that the decision was a reflection of performance on the day, not talent, adding, “It doesn’t mean that you are a bad player. Tito is a good player, and I believe in him. He has been very important for the club for many years. So today [Saturday] was not his day. I’m sure he will help us in the future.”