Ouaddou proven right about Milford FC as Carling Knockout clash looms

After their opening game against Milford, Ouaddou identified the KwaZulu-Natal club as one of the teams that will be difficult to face in the new season, despite beating them 2-0. Eight games later, the Stallions are in the top five, with three wins, three draws, and only two losses, and 12 points in the bag. Ouaddou knows that it won’t be an easy game.

"Since we played them, they have a positive energy; they are well-coached, they are well-organised , they have this energy, this power that they brought from the promotion, and they can run. So that's why it's really difficult to play against that team," said Ouaddou.

READ: Golden Arrows eager to make their mark in Carling Knockout

"The most important thing is they can play football and they can unbalance any team in the PSL. We saw it after us, and for us, the positive point, of course, is to play at home. We will be supported by the 12th man, our fans, and hopefully we are looking forward to getting through that stage, but we know that it will not be easy."
 

Pirates won the Carling Knockout trophy last season, beating Marumo Gallants 1-0 in the final, and with other assignments like the CAF Champions League and competing strongly to defend their league title as well. Ouaddou, who won the trophy with Pirates, is aware of the mammoth task ahead of them to defend this title.

Meanwhile, in another interesting draw, the meeting between Kruger United and AmaZulu pits two coaches who know each other from the dusty streets of Soweto, with Usuthu head coach Arthur “1011” Zwane having been very influential to his Kruger United counterpart Abram Mongoya. He’s fully aware that they are coming up against one of the in-form teams in the league.

Kruger have found the going a bit tough in the elite league, having picked up only four points in their first seven games of the season. With five losses, it could be an indicator of struggling to adapt, but Mongoya holds a different view, arguing that recruiting 21 players and expecting them to adapt quickly was not going to be easy.