Secret To Pirates Coach’s Success Revealed?

Insight into Moroccan coaches (photo sourced from Gallo Images)

What sets Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou apart has seemingly been revealed, after two trophies in three months and nine players from the club made the Bafana Bafana AFCON squad.

Ouaddou experienced a slight hiccup early in his reign at Pirates after he replaced Jose Riveiro, who set the bar high, after back-to-back opening defeats in the Betway Premiership.

However, the Moroccan coach has inspired the Buccaneers to the top of the standings by Christmas for the first time since 2004, with the MTN8 and Carling Knockout trophies also in the trophy cabinet, within a space of three months.

In addition to the Soweto giants contributing nine players to the Bafana Bafana squad doing duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, the former Marumo Gallants head coach does not get enough credit for creating an environment that showcased breakout stars such Masindi Nemtajela, Cemran Dansin and making Mbekezeli Mbokazi a first-choice starter and one of the captains.

Under Ouaddou, there is excitement over players such as Sipho Mbule reaching their potential and Oswin Appollis living up to or exceeding the expectations.

A source familiar with Moroccan football has revealed to the Siya crew what makes the DNA of a Moroccan coach.

“What is good about Morocco coaches is that they see players differently than us. When you see a player as not good enough, they make use of that player and make him shine,” the source said.

“Those guys are very good with player-management, I’ve studied them. Ouaddou can take a player from the reserves, give him confidence, as you saw with Dansin.

“They don’t have star players. They don’t believe that a particular player is exceptional. Ouaddou does not get excited by what we see and say about Sipho Mbule (for example), he takes him as a (normal) team member, who has to play his part, when he’s done, make way for others to play. That’s Moroccan coaches for you,” the well-placed source said.

The source went on and drew parallels with former Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns forward Thembinkosi Lorch finding a rich vein of form under Moroccan coach Mohamed Amine Benhachem at Wydad Casablanca.

“Lorch there (at Wydad) is fighting for his position, that’s why he’s improving. That side (in Morocco) they play you when you deserve to play, they don’t play you because you’re a superstar.

“That’s why even in the Morocco national team, there’s no superstars there. All the players are equally important. Moroccans just appreciate your talent but you have to deserve to play,” the source added.

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