Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is on the cusp of achieving a remarkable feat, just two wins away from becoming the first coach to win a treble in his first season in the PSL.
After securing the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout Cup earlier this season, the Moroccan tactician has a chance to create history. For the past decade or so, Bucs supporters have celebrated the achievement of Dutch coach Ruud Krol, who won them a treble in 2011.
More recently, Spanish coach Jose Riveiro guided the Sea Robbers to five trophies before leaving the team last year in May. His replacement, Ouaddou, was not met with enthusiasm by fans, who felt Pirates were downgrading. Despite a shaky start, the former Fulham star has since guided the team to two trophies and is on the verge of delivering the league title.
Should he win the league, he would have eclipsed Riveiro, who won five trophies in three seasons but never won the league title, one of the two trophies the club has longed for. The Buccaneers appear to be in firm control at the top of the Betway Premiership, although poor form after the AFCON break saw them lose first place.
Orlando Pirates’ Title Ambitions
“A lot of people were speaking about the fact that we lost the title,” Ouaddou said, as per GOAL. “But as long as mathematically you can reach this target, you just have to play. It’s what I try to explain to the people and to my players. My players, they understand me. It’s what we’ve been doing since the beginning of the season.”
Ouaddou said what Pirates can do now is keep working and ensure they win their next matches. “When people started to be doubtful about us, we just kept quiet and kept working. We hid in the work. We still have two games; everything is possible. Everything is possible in football.”
Can Pirates Clinch the Title?
With two games remaining, Pirates’ chances of winning the title are still very much alive. Ouaddou’s ability to keep his team focused and driven will be crucial in the remaining matches. If they can maintain their current form, they may just find themselves lifting the trophy at the end of the season.
