Orlando Pirates Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou Praises Fernando da Cruz Ahead of Kaizer Chiefs Tie
- Orlando Pirates host Kaizer Chiefs at a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday in what promises to be a fiercely contested Soweto Derby
- Both clubs arrive on the back of three-goal victories in the Carling Knockout Cup and remain unbeaten in the league
- Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou had a notable message about his counterpart Fernando Da Cruz despite criticism directed at the Chiefs coach
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Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has spoken candidly ahead of Saturday's Soweto Derby, offering an unexpected show of respect for Kaizer Chiefs counterpart Fernando Da Cruz despite the scrutiny the French coach has faced from sections of the public.
The two sides meet at FNB Stadium at 15:30, with the venue sold out ahead of one of South African football's most anticipated fixtures.
**Both Sides in Strong Form**
Both clubs enter the derby in good shape. Pirates and Chiefs each recorded three-goal victories in their most recent Carling Knockout Cup outings. In the Betway Premiership, Pirates sit second on the log with 22 points from eight matches, one point adrift of log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played a game more. Chiefs are fifth, having accumulated 14 points from eight matches, with five of their last six games ending in draws.
Ouaddou was measured in his pre-match remarks, noting that league standings carry little weight once a derby kicks off.
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"I think being favourites like I said, doesn't give you the fact that you are going to win the game because football is open," he said at the derby press conference. "And we know that Kaizer Chiefs is a big club, big fans. We are a big club as well. We are two of the three biggest clubs in Africa, of course in a derby we are not looking at the classification in the log. It's something different. You have to bring on the table the fighting spirit, the proudness to represent your fans, and they are doing well."
Ouaddou Defends Da Cruz
Despite the criticism directed at Da Cruz since his arrival at Amakhosi, the Pirates coach offered a measured defence of his French counterpart, pointing to results as evidence that the coach has earned his position.
"They are doing well because a lot of people can speak, a lot people can criticise, but if you see they are not losing games, they have an interesting game model," Ouaddou added. "We are doing well as well. So what we want is to give a very good image of football during the derby."
The Soweto Derby has historically transcended form and league position, and Saturday's edition is expected to draw enormous attention from supporters across South Africa.
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Source: Briefly News
