Abdeslam Ouaddou Comments on Orlando Pirates Star’s Return After Injury Setback
- Abdeslam Ouaddou has commented on Boitumelo Radiopane’s return from injury after being sidelined for several weeks
- The French-Moroccan has the Bafana Bafana striker back on time, as the Sea Robbers prepare for the Soweto derby second leg
- The Soweto-based club are still on track to win the Betway Premiership this season despite Mamelodi Sundowns breathing down their neck
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has reflected on Boitumelo Radiopane’s return to the squad following his spell on the sidelines due to injury, expressing his views after the striker returned to matchday involvement.
The Bafana Bafana star returned in time with the Sea Robbers, preparing to face Kaizer Chiefs in the second Soweto derby of the season.
Source: Instagram
Radiopane made his comeback to competitive football when the Soweto giants delivered a dominant 3–0 win over AmaZulu FC in the Betway Premiership clash at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
The attacker was introduced in the second half, coming on in place of Yanela Mbuthuma, who has recently been the first-choice striker for the Soweto club.
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Pirates produced a convincing performance, with goals from Mbuthuma, Oswin Appollis, and Relebohile Mofokeng securing all three points. The victory pushed the Buccaneers to the top of the league standings on 58 points after 25 matches.
Orlando Pirates' win over AmaZulu FC
The result saw Orlando Pirates overtake Mamelodi Sundowns, moving into first place in what is shaping up to be a tight title race. Sundowns dropped to second with 56 points but still have two games in hand, having played fewer matches due to their CAF Champions League involvement.
With five league fixtures remaining, Pirates’ title push has been strengthened by Radiopane’s return, with the striker expected to offer additional attacking options.
The former academy graduate has struggled to secure regular minutes this season due to injuries and inconsistent form, managing only five appearances across all competitions and registering one assist. In his absence, Evidence Makgopa and Mbuthuma have carried the scoring responsibility, each contributing five league goals.
Ouaddou's on Radiopane's return from injury
After the win over AmaZulu, Ouaddou explained that Radiopane’s return to full fitness was the result of sustained effort in training. He also revealed that leaving Makgopa out of the matchday squad was a deliberate tactical decision aimed at giving Radiopane valuable game time.
According to him, Radiopane had been pushing hard for a return, even featuring and scoring in a friendly against All Stars shortly before the AFCON break.
Source: Instagram
Ouaddou noted that his training performances justified the decision to involve him again, stressing the importance of keeping all strikers match-ready and competitive.
He added that Makgopa may have required a full 90 minutes, so the staff opted to introduce Radiopane instead, allowing him to regain confidence and feel reintegrated into the squad after a long absence.
Ouaddou calls out Pirates 'boo boys'
Briefly News also reported that Ouaddou addressed Orlando Pirates fans who were booing the team against TS Galaxy in the league.
The former Marumo Gallants manager stressed that his players are fully committed every time they step onto the pitch.
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Source: Briefly News
