Abdeslam Ouaddou gives Pedersen update amid much-awaited debut

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has provided an update on newly signed striker Sebastian Pedersen amid his highly-anticipated debut for the Sea Robbers.

The 27-year-old centre-forward joined the Buccaneers from Norwegian second-tier outfit Sogndal IL on a two-year-deal with an option to extend, hot on the heels of scoring eight goals in 14 league outings last season.

Having bemoaned the lack of cutting edge throughout the previous campaign where he guided Pirates to a treble, Ouaddou expressed excitement at having a proven lethal finisher at his disposal this term.

“I think there's a lot of excitement around his arrival and we're happy, of course, when we see the data from his previous clubs and when we see what we need in our game,” said the Pirates boss.

"And when you know that last season in Africa Pirates were the team who created the most chances in the continent, but the average of conversion was poor and we needed to find some solutions. So, he's the man that the scouting department has seen to help us.

"I think he's really happy to join Pirates, we saw a lot of excitement from him in training and we can see definitely that he has the quality to finish. I don't need one month to see that he's a finisher. The question mark now is to be able to put his qualities on the table and to show his qualities.

While he is chuffed with the player's arrival at Mayfair, the Bucs mentor says he is not fully fit to take to the pitch, and stressed the importance of affording him ample time to adjust to his new surroundings.

“It's important to be fit and in that area he's not 100%, the performance department is working closely with him in order to have him fully ready,” Ouaddou added.

"And one area that is very important as well and very cautious, because I was in that situation before, when you travel as a professional football player and you go in a new environment, in a new country, there is a time of integration.

"There is this stress to discover the environment, you have to eat differently, so lot of things change and it's not physically but mentally. So, you have to be careful about these things and take time to integrate him because we don't want to risk any injury.

"So, I'm like you, I want to see him on the pitch but at the same time as a coach I cannot throw him in the fire, and after maybe the fire can burn him.

With the 2026/27 campaign gathering steam, Pedersen will be itching to regain full fitness and be in contention as Pirates look to compete for major honours on all fronts.

Hlayisani Magoro

Editorfr, en

Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

Related teams and leagues

Orlando Pirates