Abdeslam Ouaddou optimistic Pirates can dethrone Sundowns

Africa 30 January 2026 at 06:09

Hlayisani Magoro

News Editor

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is optimistic the Buccaneers can knock defending Betway Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns off their perch.

The Soweto giants have finished as runners-up to the Brazilians in the past three seasons under the guidance of then-head coach Jose Riveiro.

Meanwhile, Sundowns have won the championship eight times in a row - a testament to their dominance in the South African topflight division.

With Pirates, who have two games in hand, trailing Masandawana by three points, Ouaddou is upbeat about his team's chances for the title, despite the club's history of choking in the run-in.

“I know the history of the club but for me it's a new season with a lot of changes, of course, a lot of ambition. So, for me I'm just focused on this season and how we deal with every game every weekend, how we prepare them [players] to win the games,” he stated.

"Of course, there is this idea to reduce the gap but not only reducing the gap - maybe there is an opportunity this season to go higher and we have to take this opportunity. But we need to win every games.

"I will not tell you that we have a target of points for each month - no. The mentality is that every game we start with the target, the aim to win. Of course, sometimes it's not possible like last week [vs Sekhukhune].

"We played [in] that game if you see the intensity, if you see the efforts that my players gave in that game, they gave everything. But it was not the day to take the points but we have to keep the same spirit, the same unit and if we keep that I'm sure we will surprise a lot of people.

Pirates will return to league action with a clash against bottom-placed Magesi FC at the newly renamed Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.