Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou recently revealed that he’s an admirer of clean sheets and goals — two qualities he’ll need from his team if they are to win a record-extending fifth MTN8 crown this season and a 15th Top 8 competition overall in the top flight.
In goal, No 1 Sipho Chaine has kept two clean sheets in four games. Despite conceding in the other two matches, he has still looked the part. So much so that Ouaddou has hailed him, along with captain Nkosinathi Sibisi, for quickly putting World Cup fever behind them.
However, it is up-front that Pirates still lack a clinical edge. Striker Yanela Mbuthuma has failed to reward the faith shown in him by Ouaddou, as he has yet to get the monkey off his back this season. Mbuthuma is set to face heavy scrutiny amid the injury to Evidence Makgopa.
Enter Sebastien Pedersen.
The Norwegian-born striker received a warm welcome upon his arrival in pre-season. Given his scoring prowess — noted by Ouaddou and his technical team — he is expected to deliver goals.
Because he has yet to make his debut for the club, having remained on the bench in the recent 3–0 win over Chippa United, many of The Ghost want him to play regularly to bolster the attack.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of their MTN8 semi-final first-leg clash away to Sekhukhune United at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm), Ouaddou expanded on Pedersen's qualities.
“There’s a lot of excitement around him. We are happy. When we see his data from his previous club — and what we need in our games — he’ll fit in well,” Ouaddou explained.
“When you look at the data, Pirates created the most chances on the continent, but the average conversion was low. So, we needed to find a solution, and he’s the man scouting spotted to help us.
“At the moment, I think he’s really happy to join Orlando Pirates. We have seen a lot of excitement and happiness from him at training. I have seen that he definitely has finishing qualities. I don’t need a month to see that he’s a finisher.”
Given a nervy 2-1 MTN8 quarter-final win over Durban City, Pirates will need goals against Babina Noko, especially with the teams facing off three consecutive times this week due to a midweek league match and the second leg on Saturday afternoon at Orlando Amstel Arena.
Ouaddou, though, was coy on whether they’ll launch Pedersen, who has already been dubbed the “Baby Haaland” — a moniker derived from being a countryman of highly rated marksman Erling Haaland.
“The main thing now is to put his qualities on the table and for him to show those qualities,” Ouaddou said.
“It’s important for him to be fit. That’s an area where he’s not at 100 per cent, but the conditioning department is working with him.
“It’s an area where you need to be cautious. I was in that situation. When you travel as a football player to a new environment and country, there’s a need for integration. You have to eat differently. A lot of things change, and that’s mental, so those things take time.
“Like everyone, I want to see him on the pitch, but as a coach, I can’t throw him into the fire, only for the fire to burn him.”
Ouaddou has hogged the spotlight since the start of the season after revealing that some of his international players were yet to fully focus on domestic matches following the World Cup with Bafana Bafana.
However, given the backlash he received, Ouaddou insisted that he will use a better approach to fire up his troops, though he still needs a formidable team.
“I have been here for more than a year. The media is starting to know the coach psychologically. I know the players very well, and they know me as well,” Ouaddou said. “Perhaps, if it’s not your custom to put a little bit of pressure on the players to get a reaction, then it’s not a familiar concept.”