Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou cut a frustrated figure following his team’s 1-1 draw against AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday night, noting that only two senior players are effectively contributing to the team after the Fifa World Cup 2026.
Having lost their first two league games last season, Ouaddou was eager for a perfect start this campaign. However, after winning their opening match 2-0 at home against Milford, Pirates dropped points at Kings Park in Durban.
Tshepang Moremi put the Buccaneers in the lead, but that was cancelled out by Thando Ngwenya’s stoppage-time penalty in the first half.
Having been the better team on the night and creating the most chances, Ouaddou was disappointed with the result. He did not hold back during his post-match media duties on SuperSport TV, praising Nkosinathi Sibisi and Sipho Chaine for stepping up despite the short turnaround after the World Cup.
“If we talk about this, the season is long. But some players need to wake up,” Ouaddou said. “They need to really, really wake up quickly.”
“I give credit to Sibisi and Chaine. They went to the World Cup and they are playing every game. But they (others) are the ones that need to wake up. I don’t have time. They need to wake up because now it’s an emergency.”
Ouaddou added that the duo has made a more impressive start than the rest of the players who were with them at the World Cup.
“Also clubs in Europe are complaining about this because their players didn’t have proper preparations and rest,” Ouaddou said.
"So, it’s normal. But I need them to come back to the party, or I will take a decision to rest them. I only have Sibisi and Sipho who are doing the job, unfortunately,
“I need to be straight with the other players; they need to apply themselves. A club like Pirates has fans who are waiting for a lot of success. The club is also waiting. We don’t have time.”
The Sea Robbers will have an opportunity to rectify the slight bump in momentum as early as Sunday when they face Chippa United, also at Kings Park (kick-off 3pm). Usuthu, meanwhile, face Siwelele FC, at the same venue, 24-hours earlier.