Abdeslam Ouaddou pleased with timing of Kruger United thrashing

01.09.26 FT South African Betway Premiership

Kruger United

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Orlando Pirates

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Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is pleased with the timing of their thumping of Kruger United in a Betway Premiership clash at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.

The reigning champions made their title defense intentions clear as they maintained their unbeaten run at the expense of the newly promoted outfit, who shipped in four goals without a response.

Ouaddou expressed delight with his team's cutting edge in the final third, having constantly voiced his displeasure with the low conversion rate in the previous season, where he guided Pirates to a treble.

The Bucs mentor says the plethora of goals came at the right time as the Sea Robbers are set to kickstart their CAF Champions League campaign at the weekend, before locking horns with Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final next month.

“The positive point is that there are some games where we created a lot of chances, and we didn't manage to be efficient, and in this game we didn't create so many chances but we managed to score four goals, so well done to the boys,” said Ouaddou.

"These goals came in an important moment where we will play the Champions League and the MTN8 [final]. So, I think it's really important for the boys to start to score and to build that competition in the team, it will be very important.

Having overseen Pirates crash out in the second preliminary round of Africa's elite club competition last term, Ouaddou has made it known the mandate is to overcome the ghosts of the past this season.

“We have some games before that [MTN8 final]. We think for the Champions League, it's one competition that is very important for us, especially when we know that last season we went out quickly,” added the 47-year-old tactician.

"So, for us, it's really important and after we will have time to think about the MTN8 final.

Pirates will visit first-time Mauritian champions La Cure Waves SC at National Sports Complex on Sunday, as they look to advance to the next phase of the Champions League in a bid to book a spot in the group stages.

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.

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