Abdeslam Ouaddou issues stern warning to Orlando Pirates squad

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has issued a stern warning to his players after their 2-1 victory over Durban City in the MTN8 quarterfinals over the weekend.

This comes after the Bucs mentor fielded a strong starting XI in a competition that's synonymous with allowing coaches to rotate the squad and afford fringe players some game time.

When pressed on his team selection, Ouaddou stated that he is not in the business of cheaply handing out starting berths, recalling how the chopping and changing of the team at the beginning of his tenure unfolded last season.

“I'm not here to give flowers to people, we are not in a circus. We are in a professional ecosystem, there's a lot of expectations,” said the 47-year-old tactician who guided Pirates to a treble last term.

"If you want me to remind you [media] my first two games last season - do you think that I was happy to have eight bodyguards around me?

The former Marumo Gallants boss says his team selection is based on merit and not on favours, firing a warning shot to the Bucs camp that no starting berth will be earned on a silver platter.

“I want to win games, of course, I want to put the strongest team because there is a lot of expectations, the fans want to win this competition, the club wants to win it as well,” Ouaddou added.

"It's not easy, I want to win it as well, so I need to put a strong team and the players who deserve to play is because they showed it in training during the preparations.

"There is nothing guaranteed, and it's how we push the players to have competition, but I'm not here to give flowers because when you lose two or three games who is in the headlines?

Pirates, meanwhile, return to action with a Betway Premiership clash against AmaZulu FC at Kings Park Stadium on Wednesday, 12 August as they continue their title defense.

Hlayisani Magoro

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

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