Abdeslam Ouaddou enjoyed a winning start to life at Orlando Pirates, who registered a 2-0 win over Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon.
MTN8
Result: Orlando Pirates 2-0 Polokwane City
Date: 02 August 2025
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Ouaddou gave official debuts to Sipho Mbule, Sihle Nduli and former Rise and Shine star Oswin Appollis, while Boitmuelo Radiopane was given the task of leading the attack.
Appollis enjoyed a dream start for the Buccaneers after opening the scoring in the 12th minute by latching onto a pass from Radiopane before calmly slotting into the far corner.
Polokwane, meanwhile, struggled to get the ball off their Soweto counterparts but they were nearly gifted the equaliser on 25 minutes following Sipho Chaine's sloppy back-pass, but Mashiane was unable to control the ball in the box.
Appollis was proving to be a real threat after he won Pirates a penalty in the 33rd minute after being fouled by Lebohang Nkaki. Patrick Maswanganyi stepped up and converted the spot-kick despite the best efforts from goalkeeper Brian Bwrie.
Click through gallery above to see action from Pirates' win over Polokwane.
The Buccaneers carried that momentum into the second half and they should have extended the lead after 57 minutes when Radiopane did well to send Bandile Shandu through on goal, but the full-back sent his effort wide of the mark.
Coach Ouaddou made two changes just after the hour mark as Appollis and Radiopane made way for new signings Tshepang Moremi and Yanela Mbuthuma for the Buccaneers debut.
It was more of the same in the second half for Rise and Shine, who struggled make any headway into the Buccaneers half due to their inability to hold onto the ball, as Chaine barely had a save to make.
The hosts almost added a third goal in the final two minutes when the ball dropped kindly for Mbuthuma in the box, but the debutant saw his goal-bound strike deflected just wide as the Soweto giants had to suffice with just two goals.
Here's how they lined up:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Sibisi, Mbokazi, Shandu, Hotto, Nduli, Mbule, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Appollis, Radiopane
Subs: Dladla, Dansin, Sebelebele, Mariko, Xoki, Dlamini, Moremi, Mbuthuma, Mashiloane
Polokwane City: Bwire, Manthosi, Gwangqa, Nikani, Nkaki, Batlhabane, Maphangule, Mashiane, Moremi, Ramabu, Dlamini
Subs: Makhavhu, Makhubela, Motsa, Mvundlela, Goovadia, Kelepu, Sebone, Malepe, Marema
