Abdeslam Ouaddou talks about Mabasa's football style!

Africa 14 September 2025 at 09:18

Hazem Mlhem

News Editor

In the aftermath of Orlando Pirates' triumphant MTN8 victory, head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou offered a revealing insight into the unique qualities of striker Tshegofatso Mabasa, painting a clear picture of how best to utilize the clinical finisher.

The Buccaneers secured their fourth consecutive MTN8 title with a commanding 3-0 extra-time win over Stellenbosch FC at Mbombela Stadium, where second-half substitutes Mabasa and new signing Tshepang Moremi emerged as unlikely heroes. While Moremi continued his impressive scoring form with a brace, it was Mabasa's crucial contribution that particularly resonated with his manager.

After being absent from the initial four matches this season, the 28-year-old marksman finally opened his scoring account, reminding everyone of the quality that made him the club's top scorer for the past two consecutive seasons. Ouaddou's assessment of his striker was both candid and precise, emphasizing that Mabasa's value lies in his positional intelligence rather than defensive work rate.

"The solution we needed was to imbalance the opponents," Ouaddou explained after the match, "and I know exactly the qualities of my players." He elaborated specifically on Mabasa's role, stating: "I brought in Mabasa because I think he's a player of the box. Don't ask him to go to defend on the side and press—he's not that type of player. He's a player that needs to be served and given balls because when you give him good balls, he's very efficient."

This tactical revelation sheds light on why the coach had previously preferred Boitumelo Radiopane in the starting lineup, while simultaneously clarifying Mabasa's specialized role as a pure box striker who thrives on service rather than defensive responsibilities.