Orlando Pirates coach sheds light on Cemran Dansin selection

What looked like a gamble to many, paid off when the 20-year-old scored a stunning volley to level matters for The Buccaneers after Sundowns had taken the lead in the first half. 

Ouaddou reiterated his stance that academy players will not gain any experience by merely sitting in the stands. 

"Since I've come in the country – it's been eight or nine months, I discovered there's so much talent in South Africa, and when you notice and have the eye to see some young talent in the country, they deserved to be encouraged and pushed to build themselves," said Ouaddou.

"I know sometimes, some coaches are scared to give chances to the young because they are scared of the opposition – if they lose, they can be sacked.

"But, as an ex-football player, I got the chance to play at the age of 18 years old, so I have seen fantastic potential in that player since the pre-season, we decided to bring him to Spain with us, and he's shown us fantastic qualities in those friendly games.

READ: Ouaddou: Pirates let Sundowns off the hook

"But at the same time, like I told you, I have worked for seven years in development [structures] in France, you have to be careful not to burn this kind of potential, so you have to bring them in step by step.

"It's why you have seen that I give him sometimes 15, 20, 30, 60 minutes, just to make him comfortable. I thought it was the right moment for him today against one of the best teams on the continent, and to throw him into the [deep end]."

The former Fulham defender committed to working tirelessly to help improve Dansin, a School of Excellence graduate.  

"It's like a bird, if you don't give him the opportunity to fly – you have to throw him from the tree to learn, and that's what we did. We need to put him and give him experience," he added.

"And I think it was a fantastic opportunity for him to show against Mamelodi Sundowns what he's able to do. Of course, I agree he still needs to work.

"If he was perfect, we would say that he's a Messi, but he still needs to work and we will improve him to be one of the best players in South Africa."