Abdeslam Ouaddou Opens Up About Tactical Error in Orlando Pirates’ Soweto Derby Win vs Kaizer Chiefs
- Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou confessed to making poor tactical decisions that put his team under serious pressure during the Soweto Derby
- Kaizer Chiefs drew level through Pule Mmodi just six minutes after Yanela Mbuthuma gave the Buccaneers an early lead
- Ouaddou revealed he was forced to change his approach and rotate players at half-time to stabilise the situation
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Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has publicly acknowledged that his own tactical decisions put the Buccaneers at a disadvantage during Saturday's Soweto Derby, admitting the errors could have cost his side the match.
Pirates drew the first blood after 23 minutes when Yanela Mbuthuma found the net, but Kaizer Chiefs responded swiftly, with Pule Mmodi levelling the score just six minutes later. Amakhosi continued to press and created several additional opportunities, maintaining dominance through much of the opening half.
Ouaddou Takes Responsibility for First-Half Setup
Speaking after the match, Ouaddou did not shy away from placing blame squarely on himself, referring to his own decisions in the third person as a way of emphasising accountability.
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"I tried to surprise the opponent, making some tactical choices that were not spot on. I think coach Ouaddou put his team in trouble in the first half," he said.
He added that the miscalculation had the potential to cost Pirates the result. "I could have cost the game, but sometimes you have to be honest to see it."
Half-Time Changes Stabilise Pirates
Despite the difficult first half, the scoreline remained level at the break, allowing Ouaddou to reassess. He used the interval to implement structural changes to the team's shape and made substitutions to shift the momentum.
"But thank God we came at half-time with 1-1. It was time to make some tactical adjustments; we changed some players as well," the coach said.
The frank admission reflects a willingness from Ouaddou to hold himself accountable at a high-stakes fixture. The Soweto Derby, contested between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, remains one of South African football's most watched and emotionally charged encounters.
The final scoreline ended at 1-1, with both clubs sharing the points following a contest that could have swung either way had Pirates not steadied themselves in the second half.
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Source: Briefly News
