Ouaddou: Pirates Has A Development Policy

Photo by Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has spoken highly about the club’s development policy that has produced some talented youngsters in recent times.

In the past year, Pirates have exported Mohau Nkota to Saudi Arabia and more recently Mbekezeli Mbokazi to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.

Read: Ouaddou Backs Pirates Strikers After Sundowns Defeat

Ouaddou was quizzed about whether it’s good to sign expensive foreign players rather than promote young players from their development.

“The club has a sport policy and a scouting department for many years and you have seen that we have a lot of local players. For me, it is something that I like when we are a club promoting young talent especially when you have such talent in the country. Give them the opportunity to shine and maybe to be even better players and to go overseas. I think it is something that Orlando Pirates is doing. And I think sometimes it can have some limits, of course it can win titles locally but now we have seen this kind of model in Europe as well especially with some clubs that are opting for local development,” Ouaddou told journalists.

Meanwhile the Moroccan-born mentor further indicated that at times it can be difficult when you are more ambitious.

“If you want to be more ambitious it can sometimes be difficult when you want to compete for the international competitions. It is a choice that me as a coach, I respect, because I decided to accept the challenge and be the coach of Orlando Pirates,” he added.

Read: Pirates Given Encouraging Signs Ahead Of Crucial Fixtures

“So I knew it before and I accept it and we have to be patient. You need that literally when you come into such a club you will have young talent that you have to keep developing. When you talk development you need to give patience to the player as well,” Ouaddou concluded.

In the past few months, Pirates have exported Mohau Nkota to Saudi Arabia and more recently Mbekezeli Mbokazi to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.

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