Title race excitement good for PSL - Abdeslam Ouaddou

A goalless draw against Durban City on Saturday meant Pirates remain two points behind reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns, with a game in hand against Orbit College at Mbombela Stadium next weekend. 

A win would have seen Pirates take first position on goal difference, needing only to avoid a ludicrous defeat in Mbombela to confirm their first crown in 14 years, but Ouaddou says the suspense may be good for the PSL.

"I'm really, really confident, and my players have to be confident as well. It's the beauty of the PSL – Durban City came to play a strong game and it shows the interest in this league, nobody gives up," said Ouaddou.

"Of course, we can be disappointed but I think, for the interest of the PSL, it's really good – it means we keep the suspense until the end, something that during [the last] eight years you didn't have.

"It was unusual for you [media], I think, because during the last eight years you knew one month before who was going to be crowned champion.

"So let's push for one more week and we hope to really give the happiness and joy to our fans in the last game, but it will not be easy as well because we are playing against a team trying to save their position in the PSL so let's go to grab it."

READ: Sikhosana: Pirates and Sundowns gave their all

Ouaddou also highlighted that the league would not have been wrapped up at Orlando Amstel Arena despite people having their champaign ready to pop.

"We had 30 shots, I think, and 12 on target – it's not enough to win this kind of game, so of course we wanted to take the three points, and I want to be clear, not the title because a lot of people were celebrating and got out the champaign before the end," he added.

"We are clear, for us the target was to take three points in front of our fans and it didn't happen, but if you remember what I've been saying since the beginning of the season, the title will be decided maybe at the last game, and we are in [that situation]."