Orlando Pirates officially announced that former Marumo Gallants coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is their new head coach to take over from Jose Riveiro, and the Siya crew finds out what the deal is.
A high-ranking insider with knowledge of the club's contractual dealings has indicated that the Moroccan-born mentor has been given a long-term contract to take the Buccaneers forward.
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The insider added that the former AS Vita Club coach is believed to have been given a straight three-year contract without an option to extend, which will run until June 2028.
"That one I can confirm to you. Yes, it's apparently believed to be a straight three-year contract. It seems as that is the standard for the club now. It was the same with Jose Riveiro as well as Micho (Milutin Sredojevic) and Ruud Krol. So, it's believed that it will run from the 1st of July 2025 to 30th June 2028. That's how things are concerning the coach's contract," the source told Soccer Laduma.
An insider close to the side stated that the club has not yet finalised the full technical team which will work with the coach.
"That they are still working on. You know a lot has changed and that's why they are still looking at the other positions in the technical team. But that also is being handled by the top brass at the club and it is expected to be known before the club leaves for Spain in the first week of July," the second insider told the Siya crew.
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Soccer Laduma contacted Pirates for official comment but there was no response at the time when this story was being prepared.
The three-year commitment to Ouaddou signals Pirates' long-term vision despite the Moroccan's limited experience in South African football. By offering the same contract length previously given to successful coaches like Riveiro, the club appears to be allowing their new mentor adequate time to implement his philosophy and build toward sustained success.
How quickly Ouaddou can assemble his technical team and prepare for the upcoming pre-season in Spain will be crucial in setting the tone for his tenure, especially as expectations remain high following Riveiro's trophy-laden stint at Orlando Stadium.
