Ouaddou Eye Historic Carling Knockout With Pirates Against Familiar Side Gallants

When the final whistle goes at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night, Abdeslam Ouaddou could achieve legendary status and further endear himself to the Ghost, reawakening the spirit of the Happy People.

Ouaddou is on the cusp of history, as he could guide Orlando Pirates to the Carling Knockout crown for the first time in three seasons if they beat Marumo Gallants at the sold-out event.

That would be some milestone for the club and the Moroccan, given the fact that his predecessor, José Riveiro, stumbled in his last two attempts in the competition.

Crawling Before Running

Of course, it wouldn’t make up for the fact that they missed out on the CAF Champions League group stage- having reached the semi-finals last season - but it’s often said that before a child can walk and run, they must first crawl. And Ouaddou seems to be doing just that, starting at home.

Taking nothing away from Riveiro, he did his best to steer the Sea Robbers through the calm waters of domestic football, winning five out of eight competitions - his only blemishes being two Carling Knockouts and one Nedbank Cup. But there’s something “unique” about Ouaddou’s era.

Seizing Control of Domestic Football

The 46-year-old has grabbed the bull by the horns in domestic football. He has already won the MTN8 - the club’s fourth in a row - and is now in the Carling Knockout final, while his side is guaranteed a top finish to the year on the Betway Premiership log.

The team’s trajectory picked up after Ouaddou initially attracted critics following their back-to-back losses in the league. Such has been the turnaround across the board in domestic football that he may just prove that how you start doesn’t determine how you finish.

Grounded Leadership and Measured Ambition

Ouaddou is not getting carried away by their strides at home - where they’ve won nine games and drawn one in their last 10 - as he knows that seasonal reviews and evaluations are not done in December but in May.

The humility and measured approach of the man speak to his personality, but anyone who dares question his style of play or methodology is quickly given a reality check.

A Lethal and Electrifying Attack

Ouaddou’s team is fast, aggressive and alert. Up front, striker Evidence Makgopa, Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng and Tshepang Moremi have been lethal, scoring goals for fun. And that’s why it’s no surprise that the quartet made Bafana Bafana’s final 25-man squad for AFCON this month in Morocco.

The Engine Room Behind the Attack

The attacking contingent know they couldn’t have done it all alone, and they’ll be the first to acknowledge the spine of the team - the engine room - that has made their shine possible.

Pirates boast a midfield anchored by Sipho Mbule - known as the “MasterChef” due to his scintillating passes, which either leave his markers eating dust or find teammates in the tightest of spaces.

Backbones of the Midfield

But for Mbule and his partner-in-crime, Masindi Nemtajela, to flourish, they rely on backbones like Sihle Nduli, Thalente Mbatha and Makhaula.

Nduli has been sidelined in the past few weeks due to an injury, but Mbatha has taken over the baton and carried the team. He hasn’t disappointed either, as Makhaula has returned from a lengthy injury and brought stability to the most critical part of the team: the spine.

A Defence That Refuses to Break

But Pirates have needed more than just the spine to function - they’ve needed a rock-solid defence as well. And boy, Pirates have shown they have exactly that. Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine is not in the AFCON squad by chance; he has kept clean sheets in the last 10 domestic matches.

Chaine, though, has not been unbreachable only because of his heroics, but also because of his back four, which includes Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Lebone Seema, Thabiso Lebitso and Deon Hotto.

Mbokazi’s Leadership Beyond His Years

Mbokazi has been the definition of a true leader. The 20-year-old has defied his age to show a level of maturity that not only his peers but many of his seniors can only dream of.

That’s why it was no surprise that MLS side Chicago Fire came calling for his services for next year - a call he has answered after putting pen to paper on a multi-million-rand deal.

But the Carling Knockout final against Gallants will not only be Mbokazi’s last dance in the famous black and white jersey, but it could also further endear Ouaddou to the Ghost.

Ouaddou to Face a Club He Helped Shape

That’s not a far-fetched prediction. After all, Ouaddou knows Gallants like the back of his hand. Now that the club is flourishing under new coach Alexandre Lafitte, who is only 29 years old, it is largely due to the foundation that Ouaddou laid last season.

Ouaddou, though, is humility personified yet again. He has once more credited the work done by Lafitte and his technical team this season, acknowledging that they have built a solid and complex structure.

All Eyes on Polokwane

And so, as all roads lead to Polokwane for the last domestic cup final of the season, the Ghost are certainly upbeat about their chances of claiming another gold medal courtesy of their Moroccan king, who has graced their shores and instantly become one with the team.

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