Orlando Pirates to sign more players? Abdeslam Ouaddou responds

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has responded to questions on whether his team will welcome new faces ahead of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) off-season transfer window deadline on Tuesday, 22 September.

The reigning Betway Premiership champions have been active in the market, bringing in a staggering 12 players to date, including Ghampani Lungu, Neo Rapoo, Mthetheleli Mthiyane, Thapelo Mokobodi, Sebastian Pedersen, and Mohau Nkota on loan, among others.

On the other hand, Pirates sanctioned the sales of influential figures Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi, while parting ways with Tshegofatso Mabasa, Sipho Mbule, Thabiso Lebitso, Karim Kimvuidi, Gilberto, Melusi Buthelezi, and Thabiso Sesane, to name a few.

With the deadline looming, Ouaddou is optimistic of more arrivals at Mayfair, backing the scouting department to identify the right profiles to bolster the squad, particularly at right-back, where Kamogelo Sebelebele is the sole option.

“When you are ambitious and you want to play in many competitions, of course it's possible, and we hope to have some new players especially in that position [right-back], but we'll see,” said the Bucs mentor.

"But I'm not in charge of these areas, we have a scouting department, they know exactly what the team needs and I am sure they will look for something, I hope.

While the 47-year-old tactician is keen on more additions, he takes no issue with building a team capable of competing on all fronts with the players currently at his disposal, stating his job is to find solutions to problems.

“If we play the Champions League, we play the MTN8, we play the Nedbank Cup, the Carling Cup, the Betway Premiership - it's a lot of games,” added Ouaddou.

"But like I told you, if it's not the case, it's my job to find other solutions. I'm not here to complain, I'm here to find solutions with the players that I have.

Pirates, meanwhile, 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 have played three games more.

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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