Former Orlando Pirates striker James Mothibi has urged the Buccaneers faithful to be patient with head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou following his mixed start to life in Soweto.
Ouaddou made a winning debut with a 2-0 MTN8 quarter-final victory over Polokwane City, but his side suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership last weekend.
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The Soweto giants are back in action tonight, facing Marumo Gallants – Ouaddou’s former club – at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Speaking exclusively to the Siya crew, Mothibi called for calm among supporters and praised Pirates’ decision to appoint the Moroccan tactician.
“I welcome the new coach. Some people will say his track record is not convincing, but I respect Pirates’ choice. He has played for the Morocco national team, worked under knowledgeable coaches, gained his qualifications, and had a successful career as a professional player,” said Mothibi.
The ex-Bucs forward believes Ouaddou’s playing background will make it easier for him to connect with his squad.
“As a former player, he understands what footballers go through, both on and off the pitch. That makes it easier for the players to approach him with issues. He won’t take things personally – he’ll look for solutions,” the ex-forward added.
Mothibi has urged fans not to rush to judgement after just one league loss.
“Losing the first game doesn’t mean we can’t win the league. Some supporters are already emotional, saying the coach must go – but give him a chance. New players need time to gel with the current squad, and the coach also needs to adapt to Pirates’ culture. It’s a process, and everyone – from the assistants to management – will play a part,” he said.
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The former striker believes it will take a handful of matches for Ouaddou to fully settle in.
“After about five games, we can start to judge. The loss to Sekhukhune doesn’t mean we’ll lose every game. Look at Argentina – they lost their first match at the World Cup and ended up winning it,” concluded Mothibi.
