Abdeslam Ouaddou Sends Strong Title Warning After Orlando Pirates Stumble Against Durban City
- Abdeslam Ouaddou has come out to comment on the Betway Premiership title race after Orlando Pirates dropped points against Durban City
- The Soweto giants needed a win to secure the league title for the first time in 14 years, but they were held to a goalless draw by the Nedbank Cup champions
- The Buccaneers still have the chance to win the league next weekend as they would face Orbit College FC in their last league game of the season
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Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou delivered a bold championship warning after his side were held to a draw by Durban City, missing the chance to leapfrog Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the Betway Premiership standings.
Despite the setback, Pirates still have an opportunity to win the title after Sundowns wrapped up their season with a 3-2 loss to TS Galaxy. The Buccaneers will now head into their final fixture against Orbit College FC knowing that victory could finally end their 14-year wait for league glory.
Following the stalemate with Durban City, Pirates climbed to 66 points but stayed two points behind the defending champions. Their destiny now rests on securing maximum points in the season finale.
They need all three points against Orbit College for them to win their third official title this season after winning the MTN8 at the beginning of the season, and the Carling Knockout Cup. They also won the unofficial Black Label Cup title after defeating Carling All Stars.
Ouaddou speaks on the title race
Ouaddou applauded Durban City’s competitive display and insisted he remains confident his team can rise to the occasion in the decisive clash.
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“I mentioned midway through the campaign that the title race could go right down to the final day,” Ouaddou said during his interview on SuperSport TV.
“Now we have to go and win it in the last match because I truly believe we can.”
The former Marumo Gallants head coach also praised the fighting spirit shown by Durban City, saying their determination added excitement to the league race and highlighted the unpredictability of South African football.
Ouaddou's honest admission about his players
The Orlando Pirates mentor admitted his players appeared tense at times, particularly after halftime, but attributed that pressure to the club’s long wait for league success and the youthfulness of his squad.
“With one of the youngest squads in the PSL, it’s understandable that the occasion brings pressure,” the former Moroccan international added.
“You could see in the second half that some decisions were affected by nerves.”
Even so, Ouaddou ended with another message of belief for his players, urging them to seize the moment and finish the job in the final game of the season against Orbit FC next weekend.
Ouaddou calls out Pirates 'boo boys'
Briefly News also reported that Abdeslam 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
