Pirates boss demands sharper finishing after narrow victory

By Mazola Molefe
23rd October 2025

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says they will take the 1-0 win over Polokwane City, although their intentions were to bag a few more goals in front of their fans on Wednesday night.

The Buccaneers will need to improve their conversion rate on Saturday when they host DR Congo outfit Saint Eloi Lupopo in the return leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary round clash, chasing a 3-0 deficit.

But in the Betway Premiership, the sixth-minute strike from winger Tshepang Moremi was satisfactory enough for Ouaddou.

"Since the beginning of this match, our target was to score early and play with high intensity and pressure.

"I think we dominated most of the game, but in the first half, we could've scored more goals, and because we didn't get the second goal, the opposition were always in the game and in some instances, put us under pressure."

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Ouaddou adds that he witnessed glimpses of a side that can be sharper in yet another crucial game to follow in Soweto.

Visiting coach Phuti Mohafe, meanwhile, says that their start to the game was sluggish and immediately put them on the back foot.

"I think we started very slowly, but as the game progressed, we started to gain confidence and started to play better.

"We were struggling with Maswanganyi and Nemtajela when they dropped deeper to collect, but once we neutralised the spaces in the second half, we looked a lot better."

Mohafe also singled out goalkeeper Brian Bwire for making sure the Buccaneers failed to add to their tally on the night.