I will not be the coach - Abdeslam Ouaddou

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has reiterated his stance on showboating from his players, firmly stating that he will vacate his position should his troops proceed with the tricks.

This comes after the Buccaneers dropped the tempo in the second half of their 3-1 win over first-time Mauritian champions La Cure Waves in the return leg of their CAF Champions League first preliminary round on home soil.

Having conceded an early goal six minutes into the match, the Bucs mentor hailed his charges for overcoming the early adversity, but slammed their lack of ambition after they opted to showboat instead of adding to their goals tally.

“We don't have to mix the message, well done to the boys, we have to give credit for the reaction to come back 3-1 and go to the second stage, well done. But I cannot be satisfied to win 3-1. I stay like that, I don't want to go forward to win 3-1,” said Ouaddou.

"And I cannot be satisfied to come back in the second half to drop the rhythm, and if my players are satisfied with three goals then I think we are lacking ambitions and we cannot go far. I'm sorry, I'm not going to lie to people, we must take this job seriously.

"Football is scoring goals, when you put five, six, seven goals - okay no problem I will allow it and I will sit. And as long you see me sitting on the seat it means that I don't agree but I can leave them to make showboating, but only when you're putting seven goals, no problem but they have to understand that.

Ouaddou went on to set the record straight that he would rather hand over the reins to another coach than to oversee a side that prioritizes showboating over putting opponents to the sword.

“The high level, the top level, the best footballers it's scoring goals and I think it's the expectation, the mandate. The moment that I accept these things - I'm sorry, my job as a coach is to improve players for them to give the best, to win games with a winning mentality,” added the Pirates boss.

"And the moment that I will accept this showboating, I'm sorry, you know what? I will just leave the results, I will leave everything, and I will pack my luggage and I stop training because it will not be my world - my world is winning games.

"So, I said to the guys, they start to know me now as a coach what am I expecting, but we cannot go in the second half like that and making the showboating and we miss chances to score maybe six or seven goals.

"This is not circus and if they want to continue to do this, please, without me. I will not be the coach and it's clear, not with me, I prefer to stop and maybe bring somebody who will accept the showboating, I will not accept the showboating.

Pirates swing back to action with a Betway Premiership clash against Durban City at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Thursday, as they look to narrow the gap on log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who played three games more.

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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