Orlando Pirates coach reveals near-costly tactical gamble in Soweto Derby

Despite opening the scoring, Pirates struggled to impose themselves in the first 45 minutes, allowing Amakhosi to respond and take control of the contest before the interval.

Ouaddou’s decision to deploy Deon Hotto out of his usual position raised eyebrows, with the coach eventually making an adjustment and later conceding it was a gamble that almost backfired. 

"I think this one I will take the blame, and this time I will not blame my players. We have to blame the coach for the first half. I got it wrong. I tried to surprise the opponent, making some tactical choices that were not spot on.  So I think that coach Ouaddou put his team in trouble in the first half. I could have cost the game, but sometimes you have to be honest to say it," said Ouaddou

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"But thank God we got to half time 1-1 ,and it was time to make some tactical adjustments. We changed some players as well, we put the players in their right position."

 Pressed on the decision, Ouaddou elaborated claiming it was his way of trying to protect newly signed right full back Bulelani Sigomoshe. 

"A player who was doing well in the previous games was Sigomoshe. It took me until the last minute to decide to put Hotto there because of his experience. Since the opponent on his side was right-footed, I thought it could work to stop him and also protect Sigomoshe, as he performed well in the last games. I am happy for someone to integrate so easily coming from Milford to such a big club."

Ouaddou believes this was a lesson in his own coaching career. 

"It didn't work properly there, and we didn't have the team. We didn't have the runs in behind, the ones Sebelebele can make . One a full back can have that side, and you know in our game, full backs are very important. I didn't help the team, especially in the first half, and it's something I have to analyze with my technical staff. But, yeah, nobody is perfect, and you can see that coaches can make mistakes as well."