Abdeslam Ouaddou fires back at legends over showboating comments

Last week, Ouaddou made his point known about how he feels about showboating, at a time when he’s concerned about the team collecting points and delivering good results.

Following their 2-0 win over the struggling Marumo Gallants at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace yesterday, Ouaddou didn’t miss the opportunity to address the club legends, whom he felt were out of line with their comments.

"I heard some ex players from Pirates, let’s say legends, saying that coach Wadu cannot come here to teach us football. I don’t teach football to anybody, I’m very humble, I respect the culture, I respect this fantastic country, I like it, I love it. I love South Africa,” Ouaddou said. 

“I love its people but these people who were ex coaches need to understand that I’m here for a mandate and I’m here to take the best for my team, I’m here for the results and I’m here to win games. 

“There is a difference between skills to play forward to score goals, to be efficient and entertainment. Entertainment is not for me."

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Ouaddou’s comments drew some widespread reactions from local football legends, who don’t always take kindly to comments about showboating, especially from foreign coaches. 

But the former Moroccan international captain makes a valid point that’s always been referenced by many, that football skills should benefit the team and not just be played to the gallery.

“We have to be careful because we have to work together. You know these ex legends that you think are working with us, they have to work with us, they have to help the coach, they have to help the team and not speak on the side like that because I'm training a professional football team,” the coach added.

“I’m training a huge club in Africa. I’m training Orlando Pirates a very big institution in the continent, so we want to keep our range in Africa, scoring goals to be consistent and I think the message is clear, coach is not here chit chat or to give lesson to anybody. Coach is here to embrace the football in South Africa and to help some players to improve."