It was a tough start to the Betway Premiership season for Orlando Pirates and their new coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, who saw their campaign begin with a 1-0 loss to Sekhukhune United.
The only goal came from Siphesihle Mkhize three minutes into the second half, securing a crucial away victory for the visitors.
Despite the disappointing result, Ouaddou maintained a positive outlook, emphasizing that his team dominated the match and played well, even if the final result didn’t reflect their performance.
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“We were dominant,” Ouaddou told SuperSport after the game. “We created a lot of chances, but in football, when you are not decisive in the box, your opponents can have chances.”
The loss is a setback for the new coach, who replaced Jose Riveiro this season. However, Ouaddou pointed to the positives, including a recent 2-0 MTN8 quarter-final win over Polokwane City. He stressed that the team must continue to believe in their process.
“We have to keep believing; this is the beginning,” he said. “The team played very well, we were organized, we had many chances, and we played some nice football. Let’s keep believing.”
Ouaddou highlighted his players’ positive attitude and intensity, noting that they were just missing the final touch. “We didn’t score, we hit the post. It was the last pass, maybe a lack of finishing,” he explained.
With a quick turnaround, Pirates will need to put this result behind them as they prepare to face Marumo Gallants at Seisa Ramabodu Stadium. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 19:30, and Ouaddou will be looking for his team to secure their first win of the campaign.