Orlando Pirates Coach Ouaddou Hints at More Signings Before Transfer Window Closes

• Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou confirmed the club is considering adding players before the transfer window closes
• The Buccaneers lost key stars Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi during the off-season, leaving gaps in the squad
• Ouaddou pointed to right-back as a position of concern, with Pirates competing in multiple competitions this season

SOUTH AFRICA — Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has said the club could still add to its squad before the transfer window closes, with one area of concern already identified.

Speaking to journalists, Ouaddou confirmed that recruitment discussions are ongoing, but stressed that final decisions rest with the scouting department rather than himself.

Orlando Pirates eye right-back reinforcement

The Buccaneers entered the new season carrying notable absences. The departures of Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi during the off-season trimmed the depth of a squad that is expected to compete across several competitions simultaneously.

Ouaddou acknowledged right-back as a position where the squad is particularly thin.

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"We hope to have some new players, especially in that position [right-back], we see," he said as reported by KickOff.

"But I'm not in charge of these areas. We have a scouting department. They know exactly what the team needs and I am sure they will look for something, I hope."

Ouaddou ready to work with available players

The Pirates head coach was careful to frame the recruitment question in terms of ambition rather than urgency.

"When you are ambitious and you want to play in many competitions, of course, it's possible," he said, when asked whether further signings were likely.

Ouaddou listed the demands ahead for the club, which include the CAF Champions League, the MTN8, the Nedbank Cup, the Carling Knockout Cup and the Betway Premiership.

"If we play the Champions League, we play the MTN, we play the Nedbank Cup, the Carling Cup, the Betway Premiership, it's a lot of games," he noted.

Despite the workload, the coach was clear on his approach should no new arrivals materialise.

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"If it's not the case, it's my job to find other solutions. I'm not here to complain. I am to try to find solutions with the players that I have," he said.

Pirates, who are the defending Betway Premiership champions, have already made several new signings during the off-season as part of a broader squad rebuild ahead of what is expected to be their most demanding campaign in recent years.

Orlando Pirates face fresh CAF Champions League twist

Briefly News previously reported that Orlando Pirates appeared set to enjoy a rare travel advantage in their CAF Champions League clash with African Stars. That situation has now changed after the Namibian side made a key decision over where the first leg will be played and announced a venue in Botswana.

The development means Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side faces another logistical challenge as Pirates balance their CAF campaign with a packed domestic schedule. The change could also affect how the coach manages his squad.

Source: Briefly News