Orlando Pirates coach reveals that he had resigned last year

Speaking at their partners’ trophy tour earlier today, the Moroccan got candid that the pressure from outside the club got to him after losing his first two league games and was ready to walk away. He says while he was confident that his philosophy will eventually bear fruit, he felt that the public wasn’t patient enough with the process.

"And for me, I am an honest man. I know that we will perform, but if I don't have time and people putting pressure on me to be honest, I don't have any other choice but to submit my resignation," said Ouaddou.

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"That is what I did after two games because people don't give me time to implement my ideas; I am not a magician. I am very lucky – to be honest, I am very lucky to work with such fantastic people: Mpumi and Nkosana [Khoza], the chairman."

"They did not accept the resignation after two games. Why? Because they know the game, they know what's required at a professional club, and they gave me time. They told me, 'No, you are the man that is going to help us'."

Ouaddou says he’s seen enough in football to know how much time is needed for good results to come, and slammed the use of social media as a tool to attack coaches and players. He went on to win the MTN8, Carling Knockout Cup, and the Betway Premiership to join Ruud Krol and Augusto Palacios as the only coaches to win trebles with the Buccaneers.

He asked the fans to be more cognisant of the fact that new coaches still have to integrate their philosophy into the team, especially with new players also joining.

The 47-year-old lauded his players for the trust and buy-in of his way of doing things, and says they are the reason the plan ultimately worked out.