Ouaddou embraces the pressure that comes with the Pirates job

Ouaddou’s arrival has coincided with Pirates signing 12 quality players, the majority of whom are international players both domestically and abroad. 

Pirates have not won a league title in 14 years now, and pressure is mounting as they approach 15 years. 

Under their previous coach, Jose Riveiro, they won five knockout trophies, and Ouaddou knows the expectations from above.

"A positive pressure I must say, when you put your feet in such a big club, not only in South Africa but in the continent, of course, the board doesn't bring you here just to chill. I know the expectation of the fans, I know the expectation of the board and of course I will do my best to try to reach the targets,” Ouaddou said.

“The players as well know that they did a very good job since three years ago. So, let's keep going, we have a big challenge this season."

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From this past weekend’s game, a 2-0 win over Polokwane City in the MTN8, the biggest takeaway was the short passing game orchestrated by Sipho Mbule and his partner in crime, Sihle Nduli, in the middle of the park. 

It also released the front four of Oswin Appollis, Tito Maswanganyi, Relebohile Mofokeng and Boitumelo Radiopane to be fearless in the open spaces. 

It was a different dimension of football from Pirates as Ouaddou discusses his philosophy.

"What I can tell you is of course we have the tools, I think the club gave me the possibility for success. I'm very happy, I'm very proud of the quality of the players that I have. Of course every weekend I'm in trouble to find the perfect lineup but yeah, it's good problem for me, I'm a happy coach,” he added. 

“But yeah, the philosophy, I don't want to go deep because if I have to explain my philosophy, I think we'll have to sit for one hour, two hours to go deep but yeah, quickly, I like positional games. 

“I want my team to be able to play a positional game but to play a directional game. To be strong defensively, to have all the qualities but I need more time to explain it. To be honest, my playbook, my game model, it's 90 slides."