Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has backed Lebone Seema to reach greater heights after impressing for club and country.
The 22-year-old centre-back and reigning PSL defender of the season has had an impressive start to the 2026/27 campaign, helping the Buccaneers to maintain nine clean sheets from thirteen matches this season.
Seema also starred for Bafana Bafana in the impressive 1-0 victory over Egypt during the recent FIFA international break and looks poised to become an important part of Pitso Mosimane’s squad.
Bucs mentor Ouaddou has heaped praise on Sebone’s attitude since joining the Buccaneers from TS Galaxy ahead of last season.
“Seema did a lot of work with seriousness and professionalism because if you want to get to a high level, first of all, you need to work, to listen, to be coachable,” explained Ouaddou to reporters.
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“He is a fantastic boy. He accepts being criticised, and he listens. I remember last season against Golden Arrows, I tried to bring some efficiency in him because I always tell him that, of course, there is the beautiful game in him, and it’s always important to keep his quality and find players between the lines to play short, to play long, to play beautiful.
“But a high level sometimes asks you to be rough, to be efficient. Sometimes it’s not a shame if you have to put the ball in the stands because you want to keep a clean sheet.”
The Moroccan head coach also backed the youngster to achieve greater heights during his career while reiterating the importance of being a versatile defender.
“It’s part of your job. I call it the emergency situation. You cannot always play clean as a defender,” added the coach.
“He has a lot of improvements. He is now somebody who is able to play clean football and sometimes be rough, hard on the ball, not on the ankle of an opponent. I don’t teach this to my players [to injure others].
“You can see that step by step he became a high-level defender, and I am sure there is room to be even better. I predict a great future for him if he continues to work and listen in his career.”
Seema has made 50 appearances for Pirates, scoring four goals while also providing two assists.