Ouaddou talks preferred squad size as Pirates chase success on five fronts

Speaking after their 2-0 win over Milford FC in the opening Betway Premiership match in the new season at the Orlando Amstel Arena yesterday, Ouaddou acknowledged that the load they have needs numbers. 

Pirates are playing in all four domestic competitions, and have the CAF Champions League, which comes with a lot of traveling. Ouaddou has mentioned more about his preferred squad size...

"We are playing in all of the competitions this season and I think thirty players with the four goalkeepers will be enough for me. In that way we can cater for some suspensions and injuries across all these competitions."

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Most coaches from a European background prefer smaller squads, and this is due to a number of factors, including making everyone happy, easing conditions at training, and improving competitiveness. Currently, Pirates have a squad of 41 registered players, but it’s expected that some could be loaned out and drop back to the DSTV Diski Challenge (DDC), by the time the registration closes next month.

Reflecting on the result, Ouaddou was happy with the win but bemoaned the lack of control in the first half, something he feels they resolved in the second half. 

He praised man of the match Camren Dansin for bringing some stability in the midfield and ensured that they kept a clean sheet...

"I think we started the game exactly the way we wanted to ion terms of intensity and suffocating the opponent. If we want to be better and if we want to be more ambitious we need to establish more control in the heart of the game. 

"Dansin was fantastic today and I hope that he can continue his form throughout the season."

The goals came from the Bafana Bafana duo of Oswin Appollis (deflected free-kick) and Tshepang Moremi.

The Pirates’ match-day squad was also missing some key players, including some national team players, and this speaks to the depth of this team. Ouaddou believes that with the five competitions they have this season, the quality in their squad is going to come in handy.