Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou lauded the “strength and character” of his squad after they secured an important 1-0 home victory against Polokwane City on Wednesday.
The win, clinched by Tshepang Moremi’s first-half goal at the Orlando Stadium, provided the Mighty Buccaneers with vital domestic momentum ahead of a massive continental challenge.
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Domestic Form and Standings
The narrow win propelled Pirates into third place on the Betway Premiership standings with 18 points from eight games. They now sit just three points adrift of league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and crucially hold two games in hand over their rivals.
Speaking after the final whistle, Ouaddou acknowledged the difficulty of the contest. “Yes, three important points. It was not easy, I think the guys did well,” he told SuperSport.
He specifically praised his team’s resilience against a determined opponent: “Polokwane were strong especially in the second half. They came to press us… with a lot of ambition maybe to equalise, but I have to congratulate the boys because they had strength, character, and personality.”
Goalscoring Remains a Concern
Despite the positive result, the Bucs boss admitted he was concerned about the team’s missed opportunities to extend their lead against the sixth-placed Polokwane side.
“But we wanted to score more goals, we had the chances to definitely kill the game, but it’s an area we have to improve,” Ouaddou conceded. This need for clinical finishing is magnified by their next fixture.
Focus Shifts to CAF Champions League Mountain to Climb
Pirates must now quickly shift their focus to the CAF Champions League second round second leg qualifier on Saturday against Saint-Eloi Lupopo. The Soweto giants face a huge task, as they enter the home tie 3-0 down from the first leg.
Ouaddou understands the magnitude of the upcoming fixture, calling it “an important game in the history of the club.”
He remains outwardly optimistic despite the daunting score line: “We know that we need to score four goals but it will not be easy, but we will prepare for that.”